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The amorphous Zn biomineralization at Naracauli stream, Sardinia: Electron microscopy and X-ray absorption spectroscopy

TitleThe amorphous Zn biomineralization at Naracauli stream, Sardinia: Electron microscopy and X-ray absorption spectroscopy
Publication TypeArticolo su Rivista peer-reviewed
Year of Publication2014
AuthorsMedas, D., Lattanzi P., Podda F., Meneghini C., Trapananti A., Sprocati A.R., Casu M.A., Musu E., and De Giudici G.
JournalEnvironmental Science and Pollution Research
Volume21
Pagination6775-6782
ISSN09441344
Keywordsanalysis, Bacillariophyta, biofilm, Biomineralization, chemistry, Cyanobacteria, cyanobacterium, diatom, Diatoms, electron, Geologic Sediments, Italy, Leptolyngbya, Medio Campidano, metabolism, microbiology, Microscopy, mining, phyllosilicate, Physicochemical property, Quartz, Rio Naracauli, River, Rivers, Sardinia, Scanning, Scanning electron microscopy, sediment, Soil Microbiology, sorosilicate, stream bed, Transmission, Transmission electron microscopy, X ray absorption spectroscopy, X ray diffraction, X-Ray Absorption Spectroscopy, X-Ray Diffraction, X-ray spectroscopy, XANES spectroscopy, Zinc, Zinc compounds, zinc derivative
Abstract

An amorphous Zn biomineralization ("white mud"), occurring at Naracauli stream, Sardinia, in association with cyanobacteria Leptolyngbya frigida and diatoms, was investigated by electron microscopy and X-ray absorption spectroscopy. Preliminary diffraction analysis shows that the precipitate sampled on Naracauli stream bed is mainly amorphous, with some peaks ascribable to quartz and phyllosilicates, plus few minor unattributed peaks. Scanning electron microscopy analysis shows that the white mud, precipitated in association with a seasonal biofilm, is made of sheaths rich in Zn, Si, and O, plus filaments likely made of organic matter. Transmission electron microscopy analysis shows that the sheaths are made of smaller units having a size in the range between 100 and 200 nm. X-ray absorption near-edge structure and extended X-ray absorption fine structure data collected at the Zn K-edge indicate that the biomineral has a local structure similar to hemimorphite, a zinc sorosilicate. The differences of this biomineral with respect to the hydrozincite biomineralization documented about 3 km upstream in the same Naracauli stream may be related to either variations in the physicochemical parameters and/or different metabolic behavior of the involved biota. © 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.

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URLhttps://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84901270307&doi=10.1007%2fs11356-013-1886-4&partnerID=40&md5=ca1bcb17331fd822b7eec588786c7702
DOI10.1007/s11356-013-1886-4
Citation KeyMedas20146775