The Geochemistry & Geobiology Laboratory investigates the geochemical imprint of microbial life on the Earth’s surface environment through geological time by studying modern microbial metabolisms and the behavior of metals and minerals under varying aqueous redox regimes. A major focus of our work is understanding the impact of ferruginous conditions on regulating microbial activity and biogeochemical cycling.
Microbes, Minerals, & Metals
Ferruginous lakes
Permanently stratified (i.e., meromictic) lakes in the upper Midwest can develop redox zonation characterized by the absence of terminal electron acceptors. Abundant iron minerals in glacially derived sediments in the catchment can provide a ready source of iron and manganese. Microbial processes dominate the anoxic portions of these lakes and biogeochemical processes lead to methane production and precipitation of reduced Fe, Mn, and S minerals. We investigate these lakes to understand the sedimentary record from Earth’s past (Precambrian) ferruginous oceans and redox-stratified and iron-rich lakes on Mars.
