Bacterial weathering of sulphides

Although less energetically efficient than the oxidation of hydrogen sulphide (Fig. 8.4), the oxidation of metal sulphides could potentially support chemo-synthesis at seafloor massive sulphide deposits long after hydrothermal activity had ceased, even in well-buffered seawater (Eberhard etal., 1995 Juniper Tebo, 1995). Newly formed sulphide deposits are rapidly subjected to oxidation upon contact with ambient seawater, and some show micro-scale weathering features (e.g. etch pits on mineral surfaces Verati etal., 1999), 

These studies demonstrate that bacteria are likely exploiting the vast energy available in hydrothermal vent sulphides, and these deposits could potentially serve as long-term energy sources for the chemolithoautotrophic production of microbial biomass on the seafloor. However, the quantitative significance of this energy source and the environmental importance of this form of metabolism remains to be determined. 

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