Article
Reaction Sequence of Iron Sulfide Minerals in Bacteria and Their Use as Biomarkers
Science
Publication Date
5-8-1998
Abstract
Some bacteria form intracellular nanometer-scale crystals of greigite (Fe3S4) that cause the bacteria to be oriented in magnetic fields. Transmission electron microscope observations showed that ferrimagnetic greigite in these bacteria forms from nonmagnetic mackinawite (tetragonal FeS) and possibly from cubic FeS. These precursors apparently transform into greigite by rearrangement of iron atoms over a period of days to weeks. Neither pyrrhotite nor pyrite was found. These results have implications for the interpretation of the presence of pyrrhotite and greigite in the martian meteorite ALH84001.
Disciplines
Copyright
1998 American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Citation Information
Mihály Pósfai, Peter R. Buseck, D. A. Bazylinski and Richard B. Frankel. "Reaction Sequence of Iron Sulfide Minerals in Bacteria and Their Use as Biomarkers" Science Vol. 280 Iss. 5365 (1998) p. 880 - 883 Available at: http://works.bepress.com/rfrankel/24/