Biogeochemical Changes During Bio-cementation Mediated by Stimulated and Augmented Ureolytic Microorganisms.

Microbially Induced Calcite Precipitation (MICP) is a bio-mediated cementation process that can improve the engineering properties of granular soils through the precipitation of calcite. The process is made possible by soil microorganisms containing urease enzymes, which hydrolyze urea and enable carbonate ions to become available for precipitation. While most researchers have injected non-native ureolytic bacteria to complete bio-cementation, enrichment of native ureolytic microorganisms may enable reductions in process treatment costs and environmental impacts. In this study, a large-scale bio-cementation experiment involving two 1.7-meter diameter tanks and a complementary soil column experiment were performed to investigate biogeochemical differences between bio-cementation mediated by either native or augmented (Sporosarcina pasteurii) ureolytic microorganisms. Although post-treatment distributions of calcite and engineering properties were similar between approaches, the results of this study suggest that significant differences in ureolysis rates and related precipitation rates between native and augmented microbial communities may influence the temporal progression and spatial distribution of bio-cementation, solution biogeochemical changes, and precipitate microstructure. The role of urea hydrolysis in enabling calcite precipitation through sustained super-saturation following treatment injections is explored

Chemo-mechanical modeling of artificially and naturally bonded soils

Chemo-mechanical effects are known to be significant in a number of applications in modern geomechanics, ranging from slope stability assessment to soil improvement and CO2 sequestration. This work focuses on coupled chemo-mechanical modeling of bonded geomaterials undergoing either mechanical strengthening, due to increased cementation, or weakening, due to cement dissolution. A constitutive model is developed that accounts for the multi-scale nature of the chemo-mechanical problem, introducing some cross-scale functions establishing a relationship between the evolution of microscopic variables and the macroscopic material behavior, realistically following the evolution of the reactive surface area, cross-sectional area and the number of bonds along with dissolution/deposition. The model presented here builds up on a previously introduced framework. However, at variance with existing works, it is specialized on materials with only reactive bonds, such as carbonate cemented sandstone or microbially cemented silica sand. Model validation is provided upon reproducing different types of chemo-mechanical experimental datasets, on different naturally and artificially cemented materials, to establish the reliability of the proposed framework

Effect of Sporosarcina Pasteurii on the strength properties of compressed earth specimens

Microbial biodeposition of calcite induction for improving the performance of rammed earth is a research area that must be analysed in a representative environment. This analysis must consider the compaction force, particle size distribution and curing process as production variables. This paper investigates the effects of adding specific bacteria, Sporosarcina Pasteurii, into compressed earth cubes and the effect of production variables. Uniaxial compressive tests and direct shear tests have been conducted for 80 specimens. The results indicate that calcite precipitation interacts with the drying process of clay/silt resulting in reducing the compressive strength, the apparent cohesion and the friction angle. Finally, bacterial activity, which is more likely in samples cured in a high humidity environment, tends to reduce the dilatancy effect.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Geochemical constraints on the origin of enigmatic cemented chalks, Norfolk, UK

Very hard cemented chalk stacks and crusts found locally in the upper part of the Cretaceous Chalk of north Norfolk, UK, are related to solution features. The solution features, mainly pipes and caves, formed after deposition of the overlying Middle Pleistocene Wroxham Crag, probably by routing of sub-glacial, or glacial, melt-waters derived from late Pleistocene glaciers. New geochemical (particularly stable isotope) data shows that cementation of the chalks, although related spatially to the solution features, was not caused by glacier-derived waters. The carbon isotope composition of the chalk cements is typically around -9.5‰, indicative of biologically active soils. Moreover, the oxygen isotope compositions of the cements, around -5‰, are incompatible with water d18O values much below -9 to -10‰ (which probably precludes isotopically negative glacier-derived water), as resulting palaeo-temperatures are below zero. Taken together, the isotope data suggest chalk cementation occurred under interglacial conditions similar to the present. Dissolved calcium carbonate for cementation came from dissolution of reworked chalk in overlying MIS 12 glacial tills

Análisis diagenético de tetrápodos del Triásico Superior, Grupo Puesto Viejo, Argentina

The Puesto Viejo Group crops out in the San Rafael Block, southwest Mendoza, Argentina. This group is an important unit for the knowledge theTriassic faunas. It is composed of basal Quebrada de los Fósiles Formation (QF) overlying by the Río Seco de la Quebrada Formation (RSQ). In this study, we report tetrapod remains from the RSQ Formation that includes, until now, exclusively therapsids. Non-mammalian therapsids predominated in terrestrial ecosystems during the Late Paleozoic and Early Mesozoic. Although cynodonts and dicynodonts have been studied from several perspectives, the relation between taxa and sedimentary context has been scarcely documented. This study is aimed to elucidate the diagenesis of tetrapods from the Puesto Viejo Group and its relation to depositional environment. Diagenetic features of therapsid bones from the RSQ Formation were analyzed through thin sections to interpret the degree of taphonomic alteration. Diagenetic processes inferred include substitution; fracturing; brittle deformation and different permineralization events. Combined analyses through scanning electron microscopy; energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry (SEM-EDX); X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and petrographic studies reveals the substitution of hydroxyapatite by francolite. The presence of fluorine in some samples suggests a link between the elemental composition and depositional environments: floodplain and crevasse splay. Permineralization stages include infilling of vascular canals, trabeculae and fractures with iron oxides and iron carbonate minerals during the burial history. This contribution represents a relevant approach to elucidate the relation between diagenesis on tetrapods and their paleoenvironments, as exemplified in this case study from the Puesto Viejo Group during the Upper Triassic.El Grupo Puesto Viejo aflora en el Bloque San Rafael, en el suroeste de Mendoza, Argentina. Este grupo constituye una importante unidad para el conocimiento de las faunas del Triásico y está compuesto en su base, por la Formación Quebrada de los Fósiles (QF), superpuesta por la Formación Río Seco de la Quebrada (RSQ). En este estudio, se reportan restos de tetrápodos de la Formación RSQ que incluye, hasta ahora, exclusivamente terápsidos. Los terápsidos no-mamiferoides predominaron en los ecosistemas terrestres durante el Paleozoico tardío y el Mesozoico temprano. A pesar de que cinodontes y dicinodontes han sido estudiados desde varias perspectivas, la relación entre los taxones y su contexto sedimentario está escasamente documentado. Este estudio tiene como objetivo dilucidar la diagénesis de los tetrápodos del grupo Puesto Viejo y su relación con el ambiente depositacional. Las características diagenéticas de los huesos de terápsidos de la Formación RSQ se analizaron a través de secciones delgadas para interpretar el grado de alteración tafonómica. Los procesos diagenéticos inferidos incluyen la sustitución, fracturación, deformación frágil y diferentes eventos de permineralización. El análisis combinado a través de microscopía electrónica de barrido, espectrometría de rayos X de energía dispersiva (SEM-EDX), difractometría de rayos X (DRX) y estudios petrográficos revelaron la sustitución de la hidroxiapatita por francolita. La presencia de flúor en algunas muestras sugiere la vinculación entre la composición elemental y los ambientes depositacionales: llanura de inundación y lóbulo de desbordamiento. Las etapas de permineralización incluyen el relleno de canales vasculares, trabéculas y fracturas con óxidos de hierro y carbonatos de hierro durante la historia de enterramiento. Esta contribución representa un enfoque relevante para dilucidar la relación entre la diagénesis de tetrápodos y sus paleoambientes, como lo demuestra este estudio de caso del Grupo Puesto Viejo durante el Triásico Superior.Fil: Previtera, Maria Elena. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales. Provincia de Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales; ArgentinaFil: Mancuso, Adriana Cecilia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales. Provincia de Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales; ArgentinaFil: de la Fuente, Marcelo Saul. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales. Museo de Historia Natural de San Rafael - Ianigla | Provincia de Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales. Museo de Historia Natural de San Rafael - Ianigla | Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales. Museo de Historia Natural de San Rafael - Ianigla; ArgentinaFil: Sánchez, Eloy S.. Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Ciencias Físico Matemáticas y Naturales. Laboratorio de Microscopia Electrónica y Microanálisis; Argentin

How far did feedback between biodiversity and early diagenesis affect the nature of early Palaeozoic sea floors?

Latest Precambrian to Early Palaeozoic biosphere evolution triggered changes in early diagenesis and carbonate precipitation which fed back to biodiversity through colonization of hard substrates. Progressive increase in the depth and intensity of bioturbation and bio-irrigation lowered the zone of early carbonate cementation in the uppermost sediment column. This firstly led to a decline in the abundance of the flat-pebble conglomerates which had been a common feature of Cambrian and Early Ordovician successions, replaced by the peak and subsequent decline in the Palaeozoic abundance of submarine hardgrounds. The availability of very widespread lithified sea floors in shallow subtidal settings during the Ordovician promoted a rapid expansion in sclerobiont diversity and contributed to the Great Ordovician Biodiversification Event

Distribution and use of grasslands in the Czech Republic and biodiversity of invertebrates

In the Czech Republic the major focus of organic farming lies in permanent grasslands management. Animal production is mostly focused on non-milk pasture beef-raising on almost the whole farm area. By contrast conventional farms do not grass sufficiently, even in areas with higher elevation. This fact is influenced by subvention programmes motivating farmers to fulfil the agroenvironmental function of agriculture using grassing, however there is no support for agriculture on arable land. Permanent grasslands are predominantly used for beef grazing. Large areas are harvested too, which affects biodiverzity. Grasslands utilized for pasture are rich in biodiversity which enhance ecosystem services. The effect of grassland management on the different taxa and assamblages is discussed. This work is focused on permanent grasslands utilization and distribution and invertebrate abundance

Field trip guide to Oligocene Limestones and Caves in the Waitomo District

The field guide runs from Hamilton to Waitomo to Te Anga and return in limestone-dominated country developed in transgressive sedimentary deposits of the Oligocene Te Kuiti Group – a world class example of a temperate shelf carbonate depositional system. Attention focuses on the nature, distribution and paleoenvironmental controls of the main limestone facies and some of the mixed terrigenous-carbonate facies in the Group. Along the way features of the Waitomo karst landscape are noted and the trip concludes by going underground in the Ruakuri Cave to discuss cave origins and the evidence for paleoenvironmental changes locked up in speleothems

Biogrouting stabilization on marine sandy clay soil

Bio-grouting technology is a technology that simulates the process of diagenesis which shows the\ud transformation of sand into sand stone (calcarinite/sandcone), calcite (CaCo3) which is formed from bio-grouting\ud process. They will function to bind the grains of sand which is causing the cementation process and transformation of\ud sand into stone. This research aims to determine the optimum composition of the bacillus subtilis bacteria solution for\ud soil stabilization and evaluate the mechanical characteristic of the soil that is stabilized with variations bacillus subtilis\ud bacteria solution and cementation solution, combined with variety of curing time. The soil testing for sandy clay soil\ud employed standard from SNI and ASTM. Method of experimental development testing was performed in an\ud experimental model with test the design of each size 7.2cm x 3.6cm, 6cm x 6,6cm, and 2cm x 6,4cm with grouting\ud method. The kinds of examinations conducted to analyze the result are test of unconfined compressive strength,\ud permeability, and direct shear. The volume of bacillus subtilis bacteria which are injected into the soil are 2cc to 32cc\ud with curing time 3, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days. The results of unconfined compressive strength test on laboratory scale\ud shows that testing without injection of bacteria is at 0.13 kg/cm2, for the sample injected with bacteria is at 0.35\ud kg/cm2. Permeability experiments without bacteria has coefficient value of 2.49.10-4cm/sec and the sample with the\ud injection of bacteria has coefficient value of 4.91.10-6cm/sec. Direct shear experiments without bacteria injected has\ud angle of internal friction 4.46 ?? and for the results with the injection of bacteria is 35.07??. It can be concluded that the\ud addition of bacteria for stabilization of sandy clay soil with bio-grouting method manages to increase the soil???s bearing\ud capacity. This has proven with increasing strength of the soil and decrease of permeability in the soil