Biomineralization of Gold: Biofilms in Bacterioform Gold

Abstract

Bacterial biofilms are associated with secondary gold grains from two sites in Australia. 165 ribosomal DNA clones of the genus Ralstonia that bear 99% similarity to the bacterium Ralstonia metallidurans-shown to precipitate gold from aqueous gold(III) tetrachloride-were present on all DNA-positive gold grains but were not detected in the surrounding soils. These results provide evidence for the bacterial contribution to the authigenic formation of secondary bacterioform gold grains and nuggets. Show more