Earth’s geosphere is intimately tied to its biosphere. A major link between the two lies in the microbial realm; microorganisms grow in and upon rocks and minerals, often relying on their substratum for critical compounds needed in order to produce cellular energy. The presence of a metabolizing cell on a mineral substrate has a significant effect on the mineral texture and on the geochemistry of the surrounding microenvironment.
The session will focus on interactions between microorganisms and minerals both in the laboratory and the natural environment. Contributions are invited that focus on a variety of topics such as the role of bacteria in mineral dissolution, microbial attachment and biofilm formation on mineral surfaces, microbially mediated mineral formation and advantages of biomineralization, bacterial/fungal interactions with natural and artificial materials, impact of microbe-mineral interactions on geochemical cycles, microbial-clays interactions, the role of microorganisms in the transformation of nutrients and many others. The session will emphasis both classical research and molecular approaches on fundamental biogeochemical processes in various environments including extreme habitats.