Open AccessEnumeration and characterization of microorganisms associated with the uranium ore deposit at Cigar Lake, Canada; Informal report
Author(s) -
A.J. Francis,
G. Joshi-Tope,
J. B. Gillow,
Cleveland J. Dodge
Publication year - 1994
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Reports
DOI - 10.2172/145324
Subject(s) - uranium , microorganism , most probable number , environmental chemistry , sulfate , bacteria , uranium ore , environmental science , population , groundwater , chemistry , geochemistry , mineralogy , geology , metallurgy , materials science , paleontology , demography , organic chemistry , sociology , geotechnical engineering
The high-grade uranium deposit at Cigar Lake, Canada, is being investigated as a natural analog for the disposal of nuclear fuel waste. Geochemical aspects of the site have been studied in detail, but the microbial ecology has not been fully investigated. Microbial populations in an ore sample and in groundwater samples from the vicinity of the ore zone were examined to determine their effect on uranium mobility. Counts of the total number of bacteria and of respiring bacteria were obtained by direct microscopy, and the viable aerobic and anaerobic bacteria were assessed as colony forming units (CFUs) by the dilution plating technique. In addition, the population distribution of denitrifiers, fermenters, iron- and sulfur-oxidizers, iron- and sulfate-reducers, and methanogens was determined by the most probable number (MPN) technique