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Actively growing siliceous oncoids in the Waiotapu geothermal area, North Island, New Zealand

BRIAN JONES, ROBIN W. RENAUT and MICHAEL R. ROSEN
Journal of the Geological Society, 156, 89-103, 1 January 1999, https://doi.org/10.1144/gsjgs.156.1.0089
BRIAN JONES
1Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E3, Canada (e-mail: )
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  • For correspondence: Brian.Jones@ualberta.ca
ROBIN W. RENAUT
2Department of Geological Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5E2, Canada
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MICHAEL R. ROSEN
3Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences, Wairakei Research Centre, Private Bag 2000, Taupo, New Zealand
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Abstract

Oncoids that are actively growing in some of the shallow-water pools around Champagne Pool, Waiotapu, New Zealand, are formed of amorphous silica (opal-A) with minor amounts of native sulphur. The growth of these oncoids is being mediated by a high-diversity microbial biota that achieves optimal growth in waters that have a temperature of 35–42°C and pH of 6.6–6.9. Although this biota is dominated by coccoid, bacilliform, and filamentous cyanobacteria, sulphur-oxidizing bacteria are common in the cortical laminae of some oncoids. In addition, diatoms and silicified pollen grains are present in some cortical laminae. The silicified microbes are superbly preserved with their three-dimensional form and some of their internal structures being apparent, including the sites of sulphur globules in the sulphur-oxidizing bacteria. The microbes probably acted as templates for silica precipitation and thereby mediated the growth of the oncoids.

Some cortical laminae are formed entirely of silicified pollen grains that came from the Pinus radiata that grow in the exotic pine plantations around Champagne Pool. By using these laminae as a record of the annual pollination event (typically in September–November), it can be shown that many of the oncoids are <15 years old and that the cortical laminae grew at 0.2–1.0 mm (average 0.35 mm) per year. The average daily rate of silica precipitation (0.5–2.75 μm, average 1 μm) is high compared to the average size of the microbes (commonly < 1 μm in length and diameter). This rapid rate of silica precipitation accounts for the superb preservation of the microbes and is consistent with silicification of the microbes within days of their demise.

  • New Zealand
  • hot springs
  • microbial structures
  • siliceous sinter
  • microorganisms
  • © Geological Society of London 1999

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Journal of the Geological Society: 156 (1)
Journal of the Geological Society
Volume 156, Issue 1
January 1999
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Actively growing siliceous oncoids in the Waiotapu geothermal area, North Island, New Zealand

BRIAN JONES, ROBIN W. RENAUT and MICHAEL R. ROSEN
Journal of the Geological Society, 156, 89-103, 1 January 1999, https://doi.org/10.1144/gsjgs.156.1.0089
BRIAN JONES
1Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E3, Canada (e-mail: )
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • For correspondence: Brian.Jones@ualberta.ca
ROBIN W. RENAUT
2Department of Geological Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5E2, Canada
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
MICHAEL R. ROSEN
3Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences, Wairakei Research Centre, Private Bag 2000, Taupo, New Zealand
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site

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Actively growing siliceous oncoids in the Waiotapu geothermal area, North Island, New Zealand

BRIAN JONES, ROBIN W. RENAUT and MICHAEL R. ROSEN
Journal of the Geological Society, 156, 89-103, 1 January 1999, https://doi.org/10.1144/gsjgs.156.1.0089
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