Rjc. Mclean et al., FORMATION OF NESQUEHONITE AND OTHER MINERALS AS A CONSEQUENCE OF BIOFILM DEHYDRATION, World journal of microbiology & biotechnology, 13(1), 1997, pp. 25-28
A microbial biofilm community was established over 971 days within gra
vel in an aquarium so as to model biofouling of an aquifer. When the w
ater was allowed to evaporate slowly, white crystalline deposits, cont
aining several carbonate and sulphate minerals including nesquehonite
(MgCO3.3H(2)O), were seen at the highest points on the surface of the
biofouled gravel. No such deposits occurred in regions lacking biofilm
s. These crystals appeared to originate from evaporation of dissolved
salts which had migrated through the biofilm. Surface-adherent microbi
al biofilms may conceivably provide a conduit for solute transport in
porous media such as soils and aquifers.