Fossil sulphate-reducing bacteria in the Bleiberg lead-zinc deposit, Austria

Polished ore samples from the world-class Bleiberg lead-zinc deposit in Austria were studied by Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) at magnifications in the range of 105–106. The zinc ore shows nano-sized sphalerite filaments and spherules which are morphologically similar to recent biofilms of sulphate-reducing bacteria. The activity of sulphate-reducing bacteria is suggested by a large δ34S ‰ difference of ~40‰ between coeval seawater sulphate (+16 ‰) and sulphide sulphur (< −25 ‰) in the Bleiberg ores, and by variable sulphur valences. Peloids of sphalerite, Zn-bearing calcite and pyrite have features typical of bacterial colonies. Combined with geological and mineralogical evidence, a significant role of bacteria during ore deposition at Bleiberg is likely.