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Geochemistry and geomicrobiology of black manganese oxide cave deposits in Monroe and Greenbrier counties, West Virginia

Dalla Piazza, Alex T
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1463147776

Abstract Details

2016, Master of Science, University of Akron, Geology-Earth Science.
The process and distribution of manganese oxide deposition was analyzed throughout Scott Hollow and Maxwelton Sink Caves in Monroe and Greenbrier Counties, West Virginia to (1) explain why manganese oxide is preferentially depositing in caves, (2) determine what locations are ideal within caves for deposition, (3) determine what mineral form of manganese oxide is depositing, and (4) determine if manganese oxidizing bacteria are present within the caves. Collectively, 48 water samples, 16 oxide coated lithic samples, and 10 microbiological samples were analyzed. Water samples were processed utilizing ion chromatography, atomic absorption spectroscopy, and titration. Water data were additionally processed in PHREEQC Version 3 to analyze the thermodynamic favorability of birnessite precipitation in cave waters. PHREEQC was also utilized to calculate charge balance errors to ensure an accurate dataset. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) analyses were carried out on pulverized oxide coating samples to determine the mineralogy of the coatings. Cave bacteria were grown on K-medium to determine the presence of manganese oxidizing bacteria. Furthermore, manganese deposits were categorized and mapped along sections of the main stream passage of both caves. Leucoberbelin blue (LBB), a redox indicator, was utilized to confirm the presence of both manganese oxidizing bacteria and manganese oxide deposits. Water analyses revealed that physical and chemical parameters showed little variability along the cave stream passages. PHREEQC analyses determined that the cave waters were supersaturated in respect to birnessite. XRD and ESEM analyses show the mineral form of manganese oxide deposited within the caves is likely birnessite. Bacteria grown on K-medium were determined to be manganese oxidizing bacteria. Bacteria were found growing on surface and cave sample plates as well as on both plates grown in the light and dark. The presence of manganese oxidizing bacteria was confirmed by testing the colonies with LBB. Manganese deposit mapping shows manganese oxide deposition occurs throughout the surveyed cave passages. It appears that manganese oxide deposition occurs almost everywhere along the cave stream passages. Birnessite was found to be the mineral phase of manganese oxide present in both cave systems and was determined to be supersaturated in the waters of both caves with saturation indices ranging from 7.08 to 10.78. Manganese oxidizing bacteria were present throughout the cave stream passages and are believed to be catalyzing manganese oxide deposition. From visual observations, manganese oxide deposition preferentially occurs in areas of turbulent stream flow, and upon siliceous substrates.
Ira Sasowsky (Advisor)
John Senko (Committee Member)
James McManus (Committee Member)
138 p.
Geochemistry; Geology
Geology; Geoscience; Chemistry; Microbiology; Hydrology; Toxic Metals; Manganese; Caves; Engineering

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Dalla Piazza, A. T. (2016). Geochemistry and geomicrobiology of black manganese oxide cave deposits in Monroe and Greenbrier counties, West Virginia [Master's thesis, University of Akron]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1463147776

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Dalla Piazza, Alex. Geochemistry and geomicrobiology of black manganese oxide cave deposits in Monroe and Greenbrier counties, West Virginia. 2016. University of Akron, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1463147776.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Dalla Piazza, Alex. "Geochemistry and geomicrobiology of black manganese oxide cave deposits in Monroe and Greenbrier counties, West Virginia." Master's thesis, University of Akron, 2016. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1463147776

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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This open access ETD is published by University of Akron and OhioLINK.