Studying of Biomineralization on Badab Sourt travertine deposit spring, Kiasar, Mazandaran Province

Abstract

Introduction: Travertine results in the accumulation of calcium carbonate on karst springs, hot springs, small rivers and marshes. Badab Sourt is the travertine-maker spring that located in Mazandaran province and is the second natural place in Iran. It has two springheads with different characteristics and different colors and different sediments that give unique beauty to spring. Travertine is a good model to study the relationship between environment and microorganisms. This study centered on the influence of microorganisms on precipitation of calcium carbonate and isolation of microorganisms that have precipitation potential. Materials and methods: Here, to assess effects of microorganisms on mineralization were used microscopic and culture methods; from stone samples, photos have gotten with SEM and polarizing microscope and from water sample bacteria were isolated. Mineralization function of bacteria was investigated with culturing them on B4 medium and mineralization potential was approved by polarizing microscope. Results: SEM photos showed microorganisms have effect on mineralization and can act as a nucleus in beginning of crystal production. Finally, five strains Bss-3, Bsw-28d, Bss-11a, Bsw-1c1, and Bsw-39b were isolated, which have ability to precipitate calcium carbonate. In between strain Bss-3 that has 99.6% similarity with taxon Labrenzia aggregate IAM 12614T was the first report that has the ability to precipitate calcium carbonate and among the strains, strain Bsw-28d with precipitation of 45.6 mg / ml CaCO3 was the best strain. Discussion and conclusion: Microorganisms are important in the formation and evolution of their surrounding environments, thereby native microbes must be concerned for conserving and restoring the environments.

Keywords

• Travertine
• Biomineralization
• Badab Sourt Spring
• Isolation
• Scanning electron microscopy