Institute of Earth Sciences, St. Petersburg State University, University emb., 7/9, St. Petersburg, Russian Federation, 199034.
Faculty of Biology, St. Petersburg State University, University emb., 7/9, St. Petersburg, Russian Federation, 199034.
Sci Rep. 2021 Dec 20;11(1):24239. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-03600-5.
The present work focuses on the revealing the patterns of copper oxalates formation under the influence of lichens and fungi by combination of the results of field studies and model experiments. These findings create the scientific basis for the potential microbial technology applications (ore enrichment, monuments conservation, environment bioremediation, etc.). Copper oxalate moolooite Cu(CO)·HO was discovered in saxicolous lichen Lecidea inops on the weathered chalcopyrite ore of Voronov Bor deposit (Central Karelia, Russia). Bioinspired syntheses of moolooite and wheatleyite NaCu(CO) 2HO with the participation of the microscopic fungi Aspergillus niger (active producer of oxalic acid) were carried out on weathered Cu-ore from the Voronov Bor deposit. It was shown that morphology of moolooite crystals is controlled both by the underlying rock and by the species composition of microorganisms. Iron ions (sourced from the underlying rock) in the crystallization medium inhibits the moolooite formation. The observed intensive dissolution of moolooite crystals are well explained by washing effect of the intratalline solutions which depends on repeatedly dehydration / rehydration cycles in the lichens. Joint interpretation of original and published data shows that moolooite along with other cooper oxalates are biominerals.
本工作通过野外研究和模型实验的结果相结合，重点揭示了在地衣和真菌的影响下草酸铜形成的模式。这些发现为潜在的微生物技术应用（矿石富集、古迹保护、环境生物修复等）提供了科学依据。在风化的黄铜矿矿石上发现了石状地衣 Lecidea inops 中的草酸铜矿 Moolooite Cu(CO)·HO。在参与微观真菌黑曲霉（草酸的活性生产者）的作用下，进行了风化的 Voronov Bor 矿床铜矿石的 Moolooite 和 Wheatleyite NaCu(CO) 2HO 的生物启发合成。结果表明，Moolooite 晶体的形态不仅受基岩控制，还受微生物物种组成的控制。结晶介质中的铁离子（来自基岩）抑制了 Moolooite 的形成。观察到的 Moolooite 晶体的强烈溶解可以很好地解释为依赖于地衣中反复的脱水/再水化循环的细胞间溶液的冲洗效应。原始和已发表数据的联合解释表明，Moolooite 与其他铜草酸盐一样是生物矿物。
