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Pore‐scale spectral induced polarization signatures associated with FeS biomineral transformations
Author(s) -
Slater Lee,
Ntarlagiannis Dimitrios,
Personna Yves R.,
Hubbard Susan
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2007gl031840
Subject(s) - biomineralization , dissolution , sulfate , materials science , mackinawite , sulfate reducing bacteria , chemical physics , pyrite , mineralogy , polarization (electrochemistry) , chemical engineering , chemistry , metallurgy , engineering
We measured spectral induced polarization (SIP) signatures in sand columns during (1) FeS biomineralization produced by sulfate reducing bacteria ( Desulfovibrio vulgaris ) under anaerobic conditions, and (2) subsequent biomineral dissolution upon return to an aerobic state. The low‐frequency (0.1–10 Hz peak) relaxations produced during biomineralization can be modeled with a Cole‐Cole formulation, from which the evolution of the polarization magnitude and relaxation length scale can be estimated. We find that the modeled time constant is consistent with the polarizable elements being biomineral encrusted pores. Evolution of the model parameters is consistent with FeS surface area increases and pore‐size reduction during biomineral growth, and subsequent biomineral dissolution (FeS surface area decreases and pore expansion) upon return to the aerobic state. We conclude that SIP signatures are diagnostic of pore‐scale geometrical changes associated with FeS biomineralization by sulfate reducing bacteria.