Biomineralization of gold: biofilms on bacterioform gold.
Bacterial biofilms are associated with secondary gold grains from two sites in Australia. 16S ribosomal DNA clones of the genus Ralstonia that bear 99% similarity to the bacterium Ralstonia metallidurans-shown to precipitate gold from aqueous gold(III) tetrachloride-were present on all DNA-positive gold grains but were not detected in the surrounding soils. These results provide evidence for the bacterial contribution to the authigenic formation of secondary bacterioform gold grains and nuggets.
Reith
Frank
F
Cooperative Research Centre for Landscape Environments and Mineral Exploration, Post Office Box 1130, Bentley, Western Australia 6102, Australia. frank.reith@csiro.au
Rogers
Stephen L
SL
McPhail
D C
DC
Webb
Daryl
D
D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D018441:Biofilms; D011232:Chemical Precipitation; D002712:Chlorides / Q000378:metabolism; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000235:genetics; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D006046:Gold / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000633:toxicity; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008906:Mining; D009517:New South Wales; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011793:Queensland; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D043367:Ralstonia / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012987:Soil / Q000032:analysis*; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D012995:Solubility
D002712:Chlorides; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; D012987:Soil; D006046:Gold