Microorganisms interact with minerals and perturb the geochemical environment.
It is through these changes in groundwater chemistry that minerals dissolve and other mineral phases precipitate. Our research investigates different aspects of these interactions by specifically targeting mineral weathering, and comparing biotic and abiotic weathering kinetics. Another area of research focuses on microbial nutrition as a mechanism of controlling microbial colonization on silicate surfaces, and consequently enhancing mineral weathering. The role of metabolic byproducts and microbial chelating agents in silicate weathering and iron chemistry are also being investigated. One of the major problems interpreting caves formed by sulfuric acid speleogenesis is recognizing the contribution of microorganisms during cave formation.