Biology
Scientific paper
Aug 2010
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2010georl..3715604n&link_type=abstract
Geophysical Research Letters, Volume 37, Issue 15, CiteID L15604
Biology
1
Hydrology: Rocks: Physical Properties, Oceanography: General: Physical And Biogeochemical Interactions, Biogeosciences: Geomicrobiology
Scientific paper
These first measurements of specific surface area (SSA) of bulk samples of subsurface marine basalts were undertaken to determine the potential area available for microbial colonization. SSA ranged from 0.3 to 52 m2/g of basalt with the lowest value coming from pillow basalt and the highest value from breccia. The average for massive and pillow basalts combined was 2.3 m2/g. The total specific surface area of the extrusive volcanic rocks of the ocean crust is estimated to be 1024 m2. This surface area could provide attachment for up to 1034 cells if cell density is the same as that of experimentally colonized basalt surfaces. Independent measures and calculations of biomass in basalts suggest that cell densities on surfaces are only 10-4 times those in laboratory experiments and, therefore, the surface area of basalt does not limit microbial biomass in the igneous ocean crust.
Fisk Martin R.
Nielsen Mark E.
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