Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

High-Resolution Magnetic Susceptibility Measurements For Investigating Magnetic Mineral Formation During Microbial Mediated Iron Reduction, Estella A. Atekwana, Farag M. Mewafy, Gamal Z. Abdel Aal, D. Dale Werkema, Andre Revil, Lee D. Slater

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Disimilatory iron-reducing bacteria play an important role in the reduction of Fe(hydr)oxides and the production of secondary solid-iron mineral phases that can have magnetic properties. Magnetic susceptibility can therefore play an important role in identifying zones where microbial-mediated iron reduction is occurring. We investigated the magnetic susceptibility variations in a hydrocarbon-contaminated aquifer where methanogenesis and iron reduction are the main biogeochemical processes. Our objectives are to (1) determine the variability of magnetic susceptibility, (2) determine the hydrobiogeochemical controls on the magnetic susceptibility variability, and (3) evaluate the use of magnetic susceptibility as a viable technique for identifying zones where the …