Fossil evidence of iron-oxidizing chemolithotrophy linked to phosphogenesis in the wake of the Great Oxidation Event

Research Article| November 01, 2014 Fossil evidence of iron-oxidizing chemolithotrophy linked to phosphogenesis in the wake of the Great Oxidation Event Chris H. Crosby; Chris H. Crosby 1Department of Earth Sciences, University of Minnesota–Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Jake V. Bailey; Jake V. Bailey 1Department of Earth Sciences, University of Minnesota–Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Mukund Sharma Mukund Sharma 2Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, Lucknow 226007, India Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Chris H. Crosby 1Department of Earth Sciences, University of Minnesota–Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, USA Jake V. Bailey 1Department of Earth Sciences, University of Minnesota–Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, USA Mukund Sharma 2Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, Lucknow 226007, India Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 27 May 2014 Revision Received: 16 Aug 2014 Accepted: 21 Aug 2014 First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 © 2014 Geological Society of America Geology (2014) 42 (11): 1015–1018. https://doi.org/10.1130/G35922.1 Article history Received: 27 May 2014 Revision Received: 16 Aug 2014 Accepted: 21 Aug 2014 First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Chris H. Crosby, Jake V. Bailey, Mukund Sharma; Fossil evidence of iron-oxidizing chemolithotrophy linked to phosphogenesis in the wake of the Great Oxidation Event. Geology 2014;; 42 (11): 1015–1018. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G35922.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract The oxygenation of Earth's atmosphere allowed for the diversification of metabolisms to include those that rely on oxygen and its derivatives. For example, chemolithotrophic oxidation of sulfide and iron both require oxygen or nitrate as terminal electron acceptors. A growing number of oxygen-utilizing chemolithotrophs are known to accumulate intracellular polyphosphate as an energy reserve that allows them to adapt to the fluctuating redox conditions in their distinctive-gradient habitats. Polyphosphate is also thought to play an important role in the formation of phosphatic mineral deposits. Here we present fossil evidence of iron-oxidizing bacteria preserved as filamentous iron oxides within phosphatic Paleoproterozoic stromatolites. The filaments include twisted stalks similar to those produced by modern iron-oxidizing bacteria that are known to metabolize polyphosphate and inhabit steep redox gradients. Fossil iron-oxidizing bacteria preserved within some of the oldest known phosphorites serve as indicators of O2-Fe(II) gradients that may have supported microbially mediated phosphogenesis via polyphosphate metabolism and/or an active iron redox pump. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.