230Th/UU/Th-DatierungDie U/Th-Datierung ist eine sehr präzise radiometrische Altersbestimmung auf Basis der Uran-Thorium-Zerfallsreihe. Das Uran zerfällt mit bekannten Halbwertszeiten (245.500 Jahre) zum Tochterelement Thorium. Stalagmiten bauen bei ihrem Wachstum (fast) nur das wasserlösliche Uran ein, während das schlecht bewegliche Thorium zum größten Teil im Boden und Epikarst über der Höhle verbleibt. Das kann man nutzen, um die Zeit zu berechnen, die seit der Ausfällung der untersuchten Karbonatprobe vergangen ist. Moderne massenspektrometrische Verfahren erlauben Altersbestimmungen mit der U/Th-Methode bis zu 700.000 Jahren vor Heute. – DatierungDatierungUm einem Stalagmiten oder gar einer einzelnen Wachstumslage im Stalagmiten ein Alter zuordnen zu können, muß eine Datierung durchgeführt werden. Dies erfolgt in der Regel radiometrisch, d. h. über die Messung von Zerfallsprodukten (siehe auch U/Th-Datierung). eines Speläothems der Marinen IsotopenstadienMIS"MIS" ist die Abkürzung für "marine isotope stage", übersetzt also "Isotopenstadium mariner Sedimente". Da sich beim Wechsel von Warm- zu Kaltzeiten (und umgekehrt) die Isotopenverhältnisse in den Kalkschalen kleiner Einzeller (Foraminiferen) auf dem Meeresboden ändern, werden diese zur Datierung herangezogen und lassen sich zur Eingruppierung verschiedener Klimazustände in der Vergangenheit nutzen. Die MIS werden rückwärts nummeriert (also größere Zahl = älter) und ungerade Zahlen stehen für Warmzeiten, gerade für Kaltzeiten. 9 und 11 aus der Bleßberghöhle in Thüringen Bachelor Thesis
@bachelorthesis{geier2022,
title = {^{230}Th/U – Datierung eines Speläothems der Marinen Isotopenstadien 9 und 11 aus der Bleßberghöhle in Thüringen},
author = {Florian Geier},
year = {2022},
date = {2022-06-01},
urldate = {2022-06-01},
school = {Johannes-Gutenberg-Universität},
abstract = {Im Zuge des gegenwärtigen Klimawandels gewinnen Rekonstruktionen des vergangenen Klimas zunehmend an Bedeutung, da durch sie klimatische Entwicklungen besser verstanden werden können. Speläotheme bilden ein terrestrisches Archiv, welche mittels der 230Th/U-Datierung absolut und sehr präzise datiert werden können. Die datierten Wachstumsphasen von Speläothemen liefern unmittelbar Rückschlüsse auf vergangene klimatische Gegebenheiten, da ihr Wachstum von der Tropfwasser- und damit der Niederschlagswasserverfügbarkeit abhängen. Aus diesen Wachstumsphasen lassen sich wärmere und feuchtere Zeiträume abgrenzen (Interglaziale). Der Stalagmit BB2‘1 aus der Bleßberghöhle im südlichen Thüringen wurde mit dieser Methode datiert. Sein Wachstum fand in den Interglazialen Marines Isoptenstadium (MIS) 11e-c und MIS 9e statt. Besonders im MIS 11e wurde viel Wachstum des BB2‘1 verzeichnet. Im Vergleich mit anderen Klimaarchiven können die klimatischen Bedingungen um die Bleßberghöhle in einen globalen Kontext gesetzt werden. Es zeigt sich, dass das Klima um die Bleßberghöhle an globale, klimatische Veränderungen gekoppelt war und sehr früh auf diese reagierte.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {bachelorthesis}
}
Im Zuge des gegenwärtigen Klimawandels gewinnen Rekonstruktionen des vergangenen Klimas zunehmend an Bedeutung, da durch sie klimatische Entwicklungen besser verstanden werden können. SpeläothemeSpeläothemSekundäre Mineralablagerungen in Höhlen, wie Sinter, Stalagmiten, Stalaktiten, usw. bilden ein terrestrisches Archiv, welche mittels der 230Th/UU/Th-DatierungDie U/Th-Datierung ist eine sehr präzise radiometrische Altersbestimmung auf Basis der Uran-Thorium-Zerfallsreihe. Das Uran zerfällt mit bekannten Halbwertszeiten (245.500 Jahre) zum Tochterelement Thorium. Stalagmiten bauen bei ihrem Wachstum (fast) nur das wasserlösliche Uran ein, während das schlecht bewegliche Thorium zum größten Teil im Boden und Epikarst über der Höhle verbleibt. Das kann man nutzen, um die Zeit zu berechnen, die seit der Ausfällung der untersuchten Karbonatprobe vergangen ist. Moderne massenspektrometrische Verfahren erlauben Altersbestimmungen mit der U/Th-Methode bis zu 700.000 Jahren vor Heute.-Datierung absolut und sehr präzise datiert werden können. Die datierten Wachstumsphasen von Speläothemen liefern unmittelbar Rückschlüsse auf vergangene klimatische Gegebenheiten, da ihr Wachstum von der Tropfwasser- und damit der Niederschlagswasserverfügbarkeit abhängen. Aus diesen Wachstumsphasen lassen sich wärmere und feuchtere Zeiträume abgrenzen (Interglaziale). Der Stalagmit BB2‘1 aus der Bleßberghöhle im südlichen Thüringen wurde mit dieser Methode datiert. Sein Wachstum fand in den Interglazialen Marines Isoptenstadium (MISMIS"MIS" ist die Abkürzung für "marine isotope stage", übersetzt also "Isotopenstadium mariner Sedimente". Da sich beim Wechsel von Warm- zu Kaltzeiten (und umgekehrt) die Isotopenverhältnisse in den Kalkschalen kleiner Einzeller (Foraminiferen) auf dem Meeresboden ändern, werden diese zur Datierung herangezogen und lassen sich zur Eingruppierung verschiedener Klimazustände in der Vergangenheit nutzen. Die MIS werden rückwärts nummeriert (also größere Zahl = älter) und ungerade Zahlen stehen für Warmzeiten, gerade für Kaltzeiten.) 11e-c und MIS 9e statt. Besonders im MIS 11e wurde viel Wachstum des BB2‘1 verzeichnet. Im Vergleich mit anderen Klimaarchiven können die klimatischen Bedingungen um die Bleßberghöhle in einen globalen Kontext gesetzt werden. Es zeigt sich, dass das Klima um die Bleßberghöhle an globale, klimatische Veränderungen gekoppelt war und sehr früh auf diese reagierte.
@inproceedings{sierralta2015,
title = {Insights in Bleßberg cave: Speleothem chronology and geochemical research},
author = {Melanie Sierralta and Lutz Katzschmann and Wilhelm Nikonow and Dieter Rammlmair},
year = {2015},
date = {2015-03-23},
booktitle = {75. Jahrestagung der Deutsche Geophysikalische Gesellschaft in Hannover},
abstract = {During construction works on the railway network between Ebensfeld and Erfurt a karst cave was found in the Bleßberg tunnel. The so called „Bleßberg Cave“ developed in limestone of the Lower Muschelkalk. The investigations by the Geological Survey of Thuringia (TLUG), the mining agency of Thuringia, and the incorporated society of cave explorer in Thuringia revealed impressing objects (stalagmites, stalactites, sinter, excentriques, cave lake, cave creek), which were partly sampled; furthermore the extent of the cave was measured. The more than 1000 m long cave had no natural entrance. Based on interdisciplinary studies on the sampled material information about the development and age of the cave will be obtained. Speleothem represent an impressive and unique archive for climate and palaeoenvironmental changes. The growth of stalagmites can be linked to warm climate phases of past. In these warm stages, the growth of stalagmites depends on the precipitation and the water supply; thus palaeoenvironmental conditions are preserved. The aim of this study is to decode the environmental condi- tions using high resolution techniques. Selected stalagmites and sinters were radiometrically dated by 230Th/U and analysed for their stable isotopic compositions. Furthermore, micro-energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence analyses were performed to evaluate trace element dis- tribution and identify growth phases of the speleothem. Most elements revealed the layered texture of the specimen while distribution of Al recorded the fractures. Some visibly identified hiatuses could be associated with changes in chemistry (Si, Fe). The determined 230Th/U ages on several speleothem samples range between 6 ka and 360 ka. In combination with high res- olution stable isotope investigation they provide insights into climatic changes from MIS 11 to the Holocene.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {inproceedings}
}
During construction works on the railway network between Ebensfeld and Erfurt a karst cave was found in the Bleßberg tunnel. The so called „Bleßberg Cave“ developed in limestone of the Lower Muschelkalk. The investigations by the Geological Survey of Thuringia (TLUG), the mining agency of Thuringia, and the incorporated society of cave explorer in Thuringia revealed impressing objects (stalagmites, stalactites, sinter, excentriques, cave lake, cave creek), which were partly sampled; furthermore the extent of the cave was measured. The more than 1000 m long cave had no natural entrance. Based on interdisciplinary studies on the sampled material information about the development and age of the cave will be obtained. Speleothem represent an impressive and unique archive for climate and palaeoenvironmental changes. The growth of stalagmites can be linked to warm climate phases of past. In these warm stages, the growth of stalagmites depends on the precipitation and the water supply; thus palaeoenvironmental conditions are preserved. The aim of this study is to decode the environmental condi- tions using high resolution techniques. Selected stalagmites and sinters were radiometrically dated by 230Th/U and analysed for their stable isotopic compositions. Furthermore, micro-energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence analyses were performed to evaluate trace element dis- tribution and identify growth phases of the speleothem. Most elements revealed the layered texture of the specimen while distribution of Al recorded the fractures. Some visibly identified hiatuses could be associated with changes in chemistry (Si, Fe). The determined 230Th/U ages on several speleothem samples range between 6 kaka BPMit "ka BP" sind "Tausend Jahre vor 1950" gemeint. Das "BP" steht für "before present", was in der Paläoklima-Wissenschaft als 1950 festgelegt wurde. "11.000 ka BP" bedeuted also 11 Tausend Jahre vor 1950, oder unter Verwendung unseres gewohnten Kalenders: 9050 v. Chr. and 360 ka. In combination with high res- olution stable isotopeIsotopChemische Elemente können aus verschieden aufgebauten Atomen gebildet sein. Die Anzahl Protonen im Atomkern ist zwar dabei gleich, aber die Anzahl der Neutronen kann variieren. Man spricht dann von Isotopen, deren Massen kleine, aber messbare Unterschiede aufweisen. Der Atomkern des Sauerstoffs besteht z. B. aus 8 Protonen und in der Regel aus 8 Neutronen. Es gibt aber auch Sauerstoff, dessen Kerne aus 8 Protonen und 9 oder 10 Neutronen bestehen (neben selteneren, instabilen Sauerstoffisotopen). Um das zu kennzeichnen, gibt man zusätzlich zum chemischen Symbol noch die Massenzahl (Summe aus Protonen und Neutronen) an, also 16O, 17O oder 18O. Die unterschiedlichen Isotope verhalten sich zwar chemisch identisch, physikalisch aber - aufgrund ihres unterschiedlichen Gewichtes - leicht unterschiedlich. Damit stellen sie äusserst wertvolle Marker dar, die uns wichtige Hinweise zur Änderung des Klimas, der Umgebungsvegetation, Bodenaktivität und vielem mehr geben. investigation they provide insights into climatic changes from MIS 11 to the Holocene.
Some initial investigations on BB2-1 from the Blessberg Cave 2 were already performed at the LIAG in 2014/15, such as age dating, initial trace element and oxygen isotope analyses. Thus the approximate age of the stalagmite was known: 360 to 301 ka BPka BPMit "ka BP" sind "Tausend Jahre vor 1950" gemeint. Das "BP" steht für "before present", was in der Paläoklima-Wissenschaft als 1950 festgelegt wurde. "11.000 ka BP" bedeuted also 11 Tausend Jahre vor 1950, oder unter Verwendung unseres gewohnten Kalenders: 9050 v. Chr..
In 2022, as part of a bachelor thesis at the University of Mainz, the stalagmite BB2-1 was systematically dated and the new ages evaluated. For this purpose, 14 dating samples were taken and dated in the Isotope Geochemical Palaeoclimatology working group at the University of Mainz by means of U/ThU/Th-DatierungDie U/Th-Datierung ist eine sehr präzise radiometrische Altersbestimmung auf Basis der Uran-Thorium-Zerfallsreihe. Das Uran zerfällt mit bekannten Halbwertszeiten (245.500 Jahre) zum Tochterelement Thorium. Stalagmiten bauen bei ihrem Wachstum (fast) nur das wasserlösliche Uran ein, während das schlecht bewegliche Thorium zum größten Teil im Boden und Epikarst über der Höhle verbleibt. Das kann man nutzen, um die Zeit zu berechnen, die seit der Ausfällung der untersuchten Karbonatprobe vergangen ist. Moderne massenspektrometrische Verfahren erlauben Altersbestimmungen mit der U/Th-Methode bis zu 700.000 Jahren vor Heute. dating on a more modern system than at LIAG. Possible detritical content were taken into account and the ages corrected accordingly. The ages are, therefore, significantly more accurate than those already known.
The oldest age was found at the base of the stalagmite, as expected. It is 425.46 ± 5.43 ka BP. The youngest age, at the top of the stalagmite, is 320.49 ± 9.58 ka BP. The ages in between do not change uniformly. In the lower 4/5 of the stalagmite, all ages are older than 400 ka BP. Only in the upper fifth of the stalagmite the ages are significantly younger and range between 341.31 and 320.49 ka BP.
Stalagmite BB2/1 with drill sites (red) of the individual samples with the measured and corrected ages.
This allows us to define the growth phases of the stalagmite: The lower, larger part grew in isotope stage 11, the upper, younger part in isotope stage 9. Both stages are warm periods. The stalgamite did not grow in the cold periods before, in between, and after. It is interesting that growth only occurred in the beginning phases of these warm periods, which are warmer than the following phases within the isotope stage in question (growth in MIS 11e to 11c as well as in MIS 9e). After that, no more stalagmite growth took place, not even in more recent warm periods, which suggests a change in the hydrological conditions.
Development of a karst model for the area of the Schalkauer Platte and the tunnel area of the Blessberg cave. Tunnel constructions are potentially at risk from water migration through the rock. Particularly in highly permeable karst, the modelling of water pathways is of great importance for hazard assessment. How does the karstification behaviour change due to large underground structures? How does water movement change due to concrete placement? Does groundwater quality possibly suffer? What are the effects of changing water flow in the Blessberg cave (and in other caves)? These and many other questions will be addressed with karst modelling.
The group is analysing and modelling geodynamic processes that take place on and in the Earth, such as the development of aquifer systems (karstification, groundwater flow, …). Computer simulations are essentially used for this purpose.
A model for the simulationModellEin Computermodell ist in der Regel eine Sammlung von vielen mathematischen Gleichungen, die verschiedene natürliche (physikalische, chemische, biologische) Vorgänge sehr gut mathematisch darstellen. Im Computer kann man das Modell mit verschiedenen Parameterwerten (z. B. verschiedene Häufigkeit von Klüften, verschiedene Temperatur) laufen lassen, wodurch man ein sehr gutes Verständnis der Zusammenhänge und Einflußfaktoren auf die zu untersuchenden Phänomene erhält. of karstification was developed and applied to the Blessberg cave.
@article{Kaufmann2020,
title = {Modelling long-term and short-term evolution of karst in vicinity of tunnels},
author = {Georg Kaufmann and Douchko Romanov},
doi = {10.1016/j.jhydrol.2019.124282},
year = {2020},
date = {2020-02-01},
journal = {Journal of Hydrology},
volume = {581},
pages = {124282},
abstract = {Tunnel construction offers unique insights into the interior structure of rock massifs. Soluble rocks encountered during tunnel construction, however, pose a substantial challenge. Especially classical karst rocks such as limestone, dolostone, gypsum, and anhydrite are unpredictable during tunnel excavation. The enlarged voids created by the long-term dissolution of the soluble rocks in contact with water pose risks because of possible uncontrollable water inflow and of instability of the encountered cave voids, which often requires expensive remediation measures. We model the long-term development of karst features and the evolution of phreatic and epi-phreatic caves below the Schalkau Plateau in the Triassic limestone with a numerical karst evolution model. With hydrological boundary conditions derived from local meteorological data and karst springs, and a simplified model of the local lithology, our model predicts the increase in secondary permeability in the karst aquifer. Enlarged fracture zones develop at locations, where cave systems have been explored. Thus our long-term evolution model can successfully predict karst features in the Schalkau Plateau. Applying the karst evolution model on a short-term period, we assess the effect of consolidation measures taken to stabilise the tunnel cross section in vicinity of the Bleßberg Cave and its longer-term stability. Our model results suggest that flow through the cave section beneath the tunnel, which has been filled with concrete and blocks, is blocked and that during flood events the impounded water will accelerate the development of by-passes around the artificial infill.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Tunnel construction offers unique insights into the interior structure of rock massifs. Soluble rocks encountered during tunnel construction, however, pose a substantial challenge. Especially classical karst rocks such as limestone, dolostone, gypsum, and anhydrite are unpredictable during tunnel excavation. The enlarged voids created by the long-term dissolution of the soluble rocks in contact with water pose risks because of possible uncontrollable water inflow and of instability of the encountered cave voids, which often requires expensive remediation measures. We model the long-term development of karst features and the evolution of phreatic and epi-phreatic caves below the Schalkau Plateau in the Triassic limestone with a numerical karst evolution model. With hydrological boundary conditions derived from local meteorological data and karst springs, and a simplified model of the local lithology, our model predicts the increase in secondary permeability in the karst aquifer. Enlarged fracture zones develop at locations, where cave systems have been explored. Thus our long-term evolution model can successfully predict karst features in the Schalkau Plateau. Applying the karst evolution model on a short-term period, we assess the effect of consolidation measures taken to stabilise the tunnel cross section in vicinity of the Bleßberg Cave and its longer-term stability. Our model results suggest that flow through the cave section beneath the tunnel, which has been filled with concrete and blocks, is blocked and that during flood events the impounded water will accelerate the development of by-passes around the artificial infill.
@inproceedings{kaufmann2019egu,
title = {Karst and trains: The challenge of railway tunneling},
author = {Georg Kaufmann and Douchko Romanov},
url = {https://bbh.pik-potsdam.de/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/EGU2019-3554.pdf},
year = {2019},
date = {2019-04-08},
booktitle = {Geophysical Research Abstracts},
volume = {21},
pages = {EGU2019-3554},
abstract = {Tunnel construction offers unique insights into the interior structure of landscapes. Soluble rocks encountered during tunnel construction, however, pose a substantial challenge. Especially classical karst rocks such as limestone, dolomite, gypsum, and above all anhydrite, are unpredictable during tunnel excavation. The enlarged voids created by the long-term dissolution of the soluble rocks in contact with water and the hydration of anhydrite with the sub-sequent precipitation of gypsum during the drilling pose risks because of possible uncontrollable water inflow and of instability of the encountered cave voids, which often requires expensive remediation measures.
We report on a high-speed railway tunnel in Germany along the line Berlin-Munich. The Blessberg-Tunnel, about 8,3 km long, mainly traverses Ordovician quarzites and shales, but along its southern end it crosses the Frankonian line, a major fault zone, with Triassic limestones on the southern part of the fault. Here, a substantial active water cave, the Blessberg Cave, has been encountered during tunnel construction.
We attempt to explain the karst features along the Frankonian line, the evolution of active water caves in the Triassic limestones south of the fault, and try to assess the effect of consolidation measures taken to stabilise the tunnel cross section in vicinity of the cave and its longer-term stability.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {inproceedings}
}
Tunnel construction offers unique insights into the interior structure of landscapes. Soluble rocks encountered during tunnel construction, however, pose a substantial challenge. Especially classical karst rocks such as limestone, dolomite, gypsum, and above all anhydrite, are unpredictable during tunnel excavation. The enlarged voids created by the long-term dissolution of the soluble rocks in contact with water and the hydration of anhydrite with the sub-sequent precipitation of gypsum during the drilling pose risks because of possible uncontrollable water inflow and of instability of the encountered cave voids, which often requires expensive remediation measures.
We report on a high-speed railway tunnel in Germany along the line Berlin-Munich. The Blessberg-Tunnel, about 8,3 km long, mainly traverses Ordovician quarzites and shales, but along its southern end it crosses the Frankonian line, a major fault zone, with Triassic limestones on the southern part of the fault. Here, a substantial active water cave, the Blessberg Cave, has been encountered during tunnel construction.
We attempt to explain the karst features along the Frankonian line, the evolution of active water caves in the Triassic limestones south of the fault, and try to assess the effect of consolidation measures taken to stabilise the tunnel cross section in vicinity of the cave and its longer-term stability.
@article{Kaufmann2020,
title = {Modelling long-term and short-term evolution of karst in vicinity of tunnels},
author = {Georg Kaufmann and Douchko Romanov},
doi = {10.1016/j.jhydrol.2019.124282},
year = {2020},
date = {2020-02-01},
journal = {Journal of Hydrology},
volume = {581},
pages = {124282},
abstract = {Tunnel construction offers unique insights into the interior structure of rock massifs. Soluble rocks encountered during tunnel construction, however, pose a substantial challenge. Especially classical karst rocks such as limestone, dolostone, gypsum, and anhydrite are unpredictable during tunnel excavation. The enlarged voids created by the long-term dissolution of the soluble rocks in contact with water pose risks because of possible uncontrollable water inflow and of instability of the encountered cave voids, which often requires expensive remediation measures. We model the long-term development of karst features and the evolution of phreatic and epi-phreatic caves below the Schalkau Plateau in the Triassic limestone with a numerical karst evolution model. With hydrological boundary conditions derived from local meteorological data and karst springs, and a simplified model of the local lithology, our model predicts the increase in secondary permeability in the karst aquifer. Enlarged fracture zones develop at locations, where cave systems have been explored. Thus our long-term evolution model can successfully predict karst features in the Schalkau Plateau. Applying the karst evolution model on a short-term period, we assess the effect of consolidation measures taken to stabilise the tunnel cross section in vicinity of the Bleßberg Cave and its longer-term stability. Our model results suggest that flow through the cave section beneath the tunnel, which has been filled with concrete and blocks, is blocked and that during flood events the impounded water will accelerate the development of by-passes around the artificial infill.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Tunnel construction offers unique insights into the interior structure of rock massifs. Soluble rocks encountered during tunnel construction, however, pose a substantial challenge. Especially classical karst rocks such as limestone, dolostone, gypsum, and anhydrite are unpredictable during tunnel excavation. The enlarged voids created by the long-term dissolution of the soluble rocks in contact with water pose risks because of possible uncontrollable water inflow and of instability of the encountered cave voids, which often requires expensive remediation measures. We model the long-term development of karst features and the evolution of phreatic and epi-phreatic caves below the Schalkau Plateau in the Triassic limestone with a numerical karst evolution model. With hydrological boundary conditions derived from local meteorological data and karst springs, and a simplified model of the local lithology, our model predicts the increase in secondary permeability in the karst aquifer. Enlarged fracture zones develop at locations, where cave systems have been explored. Thus our long-term evolution model can successfully predict karst features in the Schalkau Plateau. Applying the karst evolution model on a short-term period, we assess the effect of consolidation measures taken to stabilise the tunnel cross section in vicinity of the Bleßberg Cave and its longer-term stability. Our model results suggest that flow through the cave section beneath the tunnel, which has been filled with concrete and blocks, is blocked and that during flood events the impounded water will accelerate the development of by-passes around the artificial infill.
@inproceedings{kaufmann2019egu,
title = {Karst and trains: The challenge of railway tunneling},
author = {Georg Kaufmann and Douchko Romanov},
url = {https://bbh.pik-potsdam.de/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/EGU2019-3554.pdf},
year = {2019},
date = {2019-04-08},
booktitle = {Geophysical Research Abstracts},
volume = {21},
pages = {EGU2019-3554},
abstract = {Tunnel construction offers unique insights into the interior structure of landscapes. Soluble rocks encountered during tunnel construction, however, pose a substantial challenge. Especially classical karst rocks such as limestone, dolomite, gypsum, and above all anhydrite, are unpredictable during tunnel excavation. The enlarged voids created by the long-term dissolution of the soluble rocks in contact with water and the hydration of anhydrite with the sub-sequent precipitation of gypsum during the drilling pose risks because of possible uncontrollable water inflow and of instability of the encountered cave voids, which often requires expensive remediation measures.
We report on a high-speed railway tunnel in Germany along the line Berlin-Munich. The Blessberg-Tunnel, about 8,3 km long, mainly traverses Ordovician quarzites and shales, but along its southern end it crosses the Frankonian line, a major fault zone, with Triassic limestones on the southern part of the fault. Here, a substantial active water cave, the Blessberg Cave, has been encountered during tunnel construction.
We attempt to explain the karst features along the Frankonian line, the evolution of active water caves in the Triassic limestones south of the fault, and try to assess the effect of consolidation measures taken to stabilise the tunnel cross section in vicinity of the cave and its longer-term stability.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {inproceedings}
}
Tunnel construction offers unique insights into the interior structure of landscapes. Soluble rocks encountered during tunnel construction, however, pose a substantial challenge. Especially classical karst rocks such as limestone, dolomite, gypsum, and above all anhydrite, are unpredictable during tunnel excavation. The enlarged voids created by the long-term dissolution of the soluble rocks in contact with water and the hydration of anhydrite with the sub-sequent precipitation of gypsum during the drilling pose risks because of possible uncontrollable water inflow and of instability of the encountered cave voids, which often requires expensive remediation measures.
We report on a high-speed railway tunnel in Germany along the line Berlin-Munich. The Blessberg-Tunnel, about 8,3 km long, mainly traverses Ordovician quarzites and shales, but along its southern end it crosses the Frankonian line, a major fault zone, with Triassic limestones on the southern part of the fault. Here, a substantial active water cave, the Blessberg Cave, has been encountered during tunnel construction.
We attempt to explain the karst features along the Frankonian line, the evolution of active water caves in the Triassic limestones south of the fault, and try to assess the effect of consolidation measures taken to stabilise the tunnel cross section in vicinity of the cave and its longer-term stability.
The strength and speed of karstification depends on various parameters, such as water balance or the existing rocks. A karstification model was used to model how karstification had developed in the area of the Schalkauer Platte and how it will develop in the future.
The model shows regional differences in the karstification potential. Especially in the areas where the model calculated increased karstification, there are, indeed, more caves, including the Blessberg cave. The modelling of future karst development, especially in the area of the cave part under the tunnel that was blocked during tunnel construction, showed a substantial increase in karstification in this area, i.e., a faster widening of fissures and crevices (in the time frame of 100 to 200 years).
@article{Keiner2013,
title = {Raman Spectroscopy—An Innovative and Versatile Tool To Follow the Respirational Activity and Carbonate Biomineralization of Important Cave Bacteria},
author = {Robert Keiner and Torsten Frosch and Stefan Hanf and Anna Rusznyak and Denise M Akob and Kirsten Küsel and Jürgen Popp},
doi = {10.1021/ac401699d},
year = {2013},
date = {2013-09-01},
journal = {Analytical Chemistry},
volume = {85},
number = {18},
pages = {8708–8714},
abstract = {Raman gas spectrometry is introduced as a unique tool for the investigation of the respiratory activity that is indicative for growth of bacteria involved in biomineralization. Growth of these bacteria cannot be monitored using conventional turbidity-based optical density measurements due to concomitant mineral formation in the medium. The respiratory activity of carbonate-precipitating Arthrobacter sulfonivorans, isolated from the recently discovered Herrenberg Cave, was investigated during its lifecycle by means of innovative cavity-enhanced Raman gas analysis. This method allowed rapid and nonconsumptive online quantification of CO2 and O2 in situ in the headspace of the bacterial culture. Carbon dioxide production rates of A. sulfonivorans showed two maxima due to its pleomorphic growth lifecycle. In contrast, only one maximum was observed in control organism Pseudomonas fluorescens with a one-stage lifecycle. Further insight into the biomineralization process over time was provided by a combination of Raman macro- and microspectroscopy. With the help of this spatially resolved chemical imaging of the different types of calcium carbonate minerals, it was elucidated that the surface of the A. sulfonivorans bacterial cells served as nuclei for biomineralization of initially spherical vaterite precipitates. These vaterite biominerals continued growing as chemically stable rock-forming calcite crystals with rough edges. Thus, the utilization of innovative Raman multigas spectroscopy, combined with Raman mineral analysis, provided novel insights into microbial-mediated biomineralization and, therefore, provides a powerful methodology in the field of environmental sciences.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Raman gas spectrometry is introduced as a unique tool for the investigation of the respiratory activity that is indicative for growth of bacteria involved in biomineralization. Growth of these bacteria cannot be monitored using conventional turbidity-based optical density measurements due to concomitant mineral formation in the medium. The respiratory activity of carbonate-precipitating Arthrobacter sulfonivorans, isolated from the recently discovered Herrenberg Cave, was investigated during its lifecycle by means of innovative cavity-enhanced Raman gas analysis. This method allowed rapid and nonconsumptive online quantification of CO2 and O2 in situ in the headspace of the bacterial culture. Carbon dioxide production rates of A. sulfonivorans showed two maxima due to its pleomorphic growth lifecycle. In contrast, only one maximum was observed in control organism Pseudomonas fluorescens with a one-stage lifecycle. Further insight into the biomineralization process over time was provided by a combination of Raman macro- and microspectroscopy. With the help of this spatially resolved chemical imaging of the different types of calcium carbonate minerals, it was elucidated that the surface of the A. sulfonivorans bacterial cells served as nuclei for biomineralization of initially spherical vaterite precipitates. These vaterite biominerals continued growing as chemically stable rock-forming calcite crystals with rough edges. Thus, the utilization of innovative Raman multigas spectroscopy, combined with Raman mineral analysis, provided novel insights into microbial-mediated biomineralization and, therefore, provides a powerful methodology in the field of environmental sciences.
@article{Rusznyak2012,
title = {Calcite Biomineralization by Bacterial Isolates from the Recently Discovered Pristine Karstic Herrenberg Cave},
author = {Anna Rusznyák and Denise M Akob and Sándor Nietzsche and Karin Eusterhues and Kai Uwe Totsche and Thomas R Neu and Torsten Frosch and Jürgen Popp and Robert Keiner and Jörn Geletneky and Lutz Katzschmann and Ernst-Detlef Schulze and Kirsten Küsel},
doi = {10.1128/AEM.06568-11},
year = {2012},
date = {2012-02-01},
journal = {Applied and Environmental Microbiology},
volume = {78},
number = {4},
pages = {1157–1167},
abstract = {Karstic caves represent one of the most important subterranean carbon storages on Earth and provide windows into the subsurface. The recent discovery of the Herrenberg Cave, Germany, gave us the opportunity to investigate the diversity and potential role of bacteria in carbonate mineral formation. Calcite was the only mineral observed by Raman spectroscopy to precipitate as stalactites from seepage water. Bacterial cells were found on the surface and interior of stalactites by confocal laser scanning microscopy. Proteobacteria dominated the microbial communities inhabiting stalactites, representing more than 70% of total 16S rRNA gene clones. Proteobacteria formed 22 to 34% of the detected communities in fluvial sediments, and a large fraction of these bacteria were also metabolically active. A total of 9 isolates, belonging to the genera Arthrobacter , Flavobacterium , Pseudomonas , Rhodococcus , Serratia , and Stenotrophomonas , grew on alkaline carbonate-precipitating medium. Two cultures with the most intense precipitate formation, Arthrobacter sulfonivorans and Rhodococcus globerulus , grew as aggregates, produced extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), and formed mixtures of calcite, vaterite, and monohydrocalcite. R. globerulus formed idiomorphous crystals with rhombohedral morphology, whereas A. sulfonivorans formed xenomorphous globular crystals, evidence for taxon-specific crystal morphologies. The results of this study highlighted the importance of combining various techniques in order to understand the geomicrobiology of karstic caves, but further studies are needed to determine whether the mineralogical biosignatures found in nutrient-rich media can also be found in oligotrophic caves.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Karstic caves represent one of the most important subterranean carbon storages on Earth and provide windows into the subsurface. The recent discovery of the Herrenberg Cave, Germany, gave us the opportunity to investigate the diversity and potential role of bacteria in carbonate mineral formation. Calcite was the only mineral observed by Raman spectroscopy to precipitate as stalactites from seepage water. Bacterial cells were found on the surface and interior of stalactites by confocal laser scanning microscopy. Proteobacteria dominated the microbial communities inhabiting stalactites, representing more than 70% of total 16S rRNA gene clones. Proteobacteria formed 22 to 34% of the detected communities in fluvialfluvialDurch fließendes Wasser verursacht; zum Beispiel: "Fluviale Sedimente" = durch fließendes Wasser abgelagertes Material. sediments, and a large fraction of these bacteria were also metabolically active. A total of 9 isolates, belonging to the genera Arthrobacter , Flavobacterium , Pseudomonas , Rhodococcus , Serratia , and Stenotrophomonas , grew on alkaline carbonate-precipitating medium. Two cultures with the most intense precipitate formation, Arthrobacter sulfonivorans and Rhodococcus globerulus , grew as aggregates, produced extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), and formed mixtures of calcite, vaterite, and monohydrocalcite. R. globerulus formed idiomorphous crystals with rhombohedral morphology, whereas A. sulfonivorans formed xenomorphous globular crystals, evidence for taxon-specific crystal morphologies. The results of this study highlighted the importance of combining various techniques in order to understand the geomicrobiology of karstic caves, but further studies are needed to determine whether the mineralogical biosignatures found in nutrient-rich media can also be found in oligotrophic caves.
Using stalactite material and fluvial sediments from the Blessberg cave, the diversity and activity of the occuring bacteria and their formation of carbonate minerals were investigated. For this purpose, various techniques such as phylogenetic analyses, bacterial cultivation, electron microscopy, X-ray spectroscopy, confocal laser scanning microscopy, and Raman spectroscopy were used.
Bacteria were found on the surface and inside the stalactites using confocal laser scanning microscopy. Phylogenetic analyses showed that Proteobacteria were most abundant in the bacterial communities on and inside the stalactites and also in the fluvial sediments, but also other groups such as Actinobacteria or FirmicutesFirmicutesEine artenreiche Gruppe innerhalb der Bakterien. Unterscheiden sich von den Actinobakterien unter anderem durch ihren niedrigeren Gehalt an Nukleinbasen in der Bakterien-DNS.. Many of the detected bacteria have not yet been cultivated.
A total of nine new bacterial cultures were isolated from the cave sediments, growing on alkaline carbonate-precipitating medium and belonging to the bacterial genera Arthrobacter, Flavobacterium, Pseudomonas, Rhodococcus, Serratia and Stenotrophomonas. Of these, the two with the most intense precipitate formation were selected for further research: Arthrobacter sulfonivorans SCM3 and Rhodococcus globerulus SCM4. Both produced extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and grew as cell aggregates.
Scanning electron microscopy of cell aggregates and extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) of the isolates Arthrobacter sulfonivorans SCM3 (left) and Rhodococcus globerulus SCM4 (right) (Image: Elektronenmikroskopisches Zentrum Jena, Sándor Nietzsche and Anna Rusznyak).
The carbonate minerals formed were mixtures of calcite, vaterite, and monohydrocalcite. Arthrobacter sulfonivorans SCM3 formed xenomorphic spherical crystals, and Rhodococcus globerulus SCM4 idiomorphic crystals with rhombohedral morphology.
The biomineralisation process of Arthrobacter sulfonivorans SCM3 was further investigated using a combination of Raman macro- and microspectroscopy to obtain a spatially resolved chemical representation of the different types of calcium carbonate minerals. The cell surface of Arthrobacter sulfonivorans SCM3 served as a nucleus for the biomineralisation of vaterite precipitates. These were initially spherical and then continued to grow as chemically stable, rock-forming calcite crystals with rough edges.
Scanning electron microscopy of precipitates of the isolates Arthrobacter sulfonivorans SCM3 (left) and Rhodococcus globerulus SCM4 (right) (Image: Elektronenmikroskopisches Zentrum Jena, Sándor Nietzsche and Anna Rusznyak).
@incollection{breitenbach_bbh2022,
title = {Die Bleßberghöhle – ein Glücksfall für die Klimaforschung},
author = {Sebastian F. M. Breitenbach and Norbert Marwan},
editor = {Thüringer Höhlenverein, e. V.},
year = {2022},
date = {2022-02-22},
urldate = {2022-02-22},
booktitle = {Nächster Halt: Bleßberghöhle},
address = {Suhl},
abstract = {Höhlen stellen generell für die Wissenschaft ein wertvolles Archiv dar, aus dem vielfältige und interessante Erkenntnisse gewonnen werden können. So gehören sie inzwischen auch zu den bedeutendsten Klimaarchiven auf dem Festland (See- und Meeressedimente stellen andere wichtige Archive dar). Solange die Höhlensedimente und Sinter ungestört bleiben, können hydrologische und klimatische Bedingungen detailliert aufgezeichnet werden. Die Bleßberghöhle ist in diesem Zusammenhang ein ausgesprochener Glücksfall, da sie über viele Jahrtausende komplett verschlossen war und so vor äußeren Störungen bewahrt wurde. Sie ist in vielen Abschnitten mit verschiedensten Sinterformen geschmückt. Für die Rekonstruktion regionaler Klimaänderungen sind vor allem die Stalagmiten geeignet. Die wissenschaftliche Bearbeitung des aus der Bleßberghöhle gesammelten Materials ist ein langwieriger Prozess und noch lange nicht abgeschlossen. Zum gegenwärtigen Zeitpunkt können aber bereits erste interessante Aussagen gemacht werden, auf die wir hier nach einem kurzen allgemeinen Einblick in verschiedene Aspekte der Paläoklimaforschung eingehen wollen.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {incollection}
}
Höhlen stellen generell für die Wissenschaft ein wertvolles Archiv dar, aus dem vielfältige und interessante Erkenntnisse gewonnen werden können. So gehören sie inzwischen auch zu den bedeutendsten Klimaarchiven auf dem Festland (See- und Meeressedimente stellen andere wichtige Archive dar). Solange die Höhlensedimente und Sinter ungestört bleiben, können hydrologische und klimatische Bedingungen detailliert aufgezeichnet werden. Die Bleßberghöhle ist in diesem Zusammenhang ein ausgesprochener Glücksfall, da sie über viele Jahrtausende komplett verschlossen war und so vor äußeren Störungen bewahrt wurde. Sie ist in vielen Abschnitten mit verschiedensten Sinterformen geschmückt. Für die Rekonstruktion regionaler Klimaänderungen sind vor allem die Stalagmiten geeignet. Die wissenschaftliche Bearbeitung des aus der Bleßberghöhle gesammelten Materials ist ein langwieriger Prozess und noch lange nicht abgeschlossen. Zum gegenwärtigen Zeitpunkt können aber bereits erste interessante Aussagen gemacht werden, auf die wir hier nach einem kurzen allgemeinen Einblick in verschiedene Aspekte der Paläoklimaforschung eingehen wollen.
@inproceedings{breitenbach2016,
title = {A multi-proxy reconstruction of Holocene climate change from Blessberg Cave, Germany},
author = {Sebastian F. M. Breitenbach and Birgit Plessen and Sarah Wenz and Jens Leonhardt and Rik Tjallingii and Denis Scholz and Klaus-Peter Jochum and Norbert Marwan},
url = {https://bbh.pik-potsdam.de/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Breitenbach_poster_EGU_2016.pdf},
year = {2016},
date = {2016-04-01},
booktitle = {Geophysical Research Abstracts},
volume = {18},
pages = {EGU2016-14213},
abstract = {Although Holocene climate dynamics were relatively stable compared to glacial conditions, climatic changes had significant impact on ecosystems and human society on various timescales (Mayewski et al. 2004, Donges et al. 2015, Tan et al. 2015). Precious few high-resolution records on Holocene temperature and precipitation conditions in Central Europe are available (e.g., von Grafenstein et al. 1999, Fohlmeister et al. 2012).
Here we present a speleothem-based reconstruction of past climate dynamics from Blessberg Cave, Thuringia, central Germany. Three calcitic stalagmites were recovered when the cave was discovered during tunneling operations in 2008. Samples BB-1, -2 and -3 were precisely dated by the 230Th/U-method, with errors between 10 and 160 years (2σ). The combined record covers large parts of the Holocene (10 – 0.4 ka BP). δ13C and δ18O were analysed at 100 μm resolution. To gain additional insights in infiltration conditions, Sr/Ca and S/Ca were measured on BB-1 and BB-3 using an Röntgenanalytik Eagle XXL μXRF scanner.
Differences to other central European records (e.g., von Grafenstein et al. 1999, Fohlmeister et al. 2012) suggest complex interaction between multiple factors influencing speleothem δ18O in Blessberg Cave. Furthermore, no clear influence of the North Atlantic Oscillation on our proxies is found. However, a link across the N Atlantic realm is indicated by a centennial-scale correlation between Blessberg δ18O values and minerogenic input into lake SS1220 in Greenland over the last 5 ka (Olsen et al. 2012). In addition, recurrence analysis indicates an imprint of Atlantic Bond events on Blessberg δ18O values (Marwan et al. 2014), corroborating the suggested link with high northern latitudes. Larger runoff into the Greenland lake seems to be associated with lower δ18O, higher δ13C and S/Ca ratios, as well as lower Sr/Ca ratios in Blessberg Cave speleothems. This might be linked to lower local temperature and/or changes in precipitation seasonality. Opposing millennial scale trends with lowering S/Ca ratios and δ13C values but increasing Sr/Ca ratios calls for more than one controlling factor. Most likely, δ13C decreased through the Holocene due to afforestation, which in turn might have increased sulphate retention in the thickening soil cover (Frisia et al. 2005) and limited sulphur flux into the cave. Alternatively, marine sulfur flux could have diminished with winter wind intensities. However, additional data is required to clarify this hypothesis. A positive Sr/Ca trend through the Holocene might result from increasing prior calcite precipitation induced by a negative moisture balance in summer.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {inproceedings}
}
Although Holocene climate dynamics were relatively stable compared to glacial conditions, climatic changes had significant impact on ecosystems and human society on various timescales (Mayewski et al. 2004, Donges et al. 2015, Tan et al. 2015). Precious few high-resolution records on Holocene temperature and precipitation conditions in Central Europe are available (e.g., von Grafenstein et al. 1999, Fohlmeister et al. 2012).
Here we present a speleothem-based reconstruction of past climate dynamics from Blessberg Cave, Thuringia, central Germany. Three calcitic stalagmites were recovered when the cave was discovered during tunneling operations in 2008. Samples BB-1, -2 and -3 were precisely dated by the 230Th/UU/Th-DatierungDie U/Th-Datierung ist eine sehr präzise radiometrische Altersbestimmung auf Basis der Uran-Thorium-Zerfallsreihe. Das Uran zerfällt mit bekannten Halbwertszeiten (245.500 Jahre) zum Tochterelement Thorium. Stalagmiten bauen bei ihrem Wachstum (fast) nur das wasserlösliche Uran ein, während das schlecht bewegliche Thorium zum größten Teil im Boden und Epikarst über der Höhle verbleibt. Das kann man nutzen, um die Zeit zu berechnen, die seit der Ausfällung der untersuchten Karbonatprobe vergangen ist. Moderne massenspektrometrische Verfahren erlauben Altersbestimmungen mit der U/Th-Methode bis zu 700.000 Jahren vor Heute.-method, with errors between 10 and 160 years (2σ). The combined record covers large parts of the Holocene (10 – 0.4 ka BPka BPMit "ka BP" sind "Tausend Jahre vor 1950" gemeint. Das "BP" steht für "before present", was in der Paläoklima-Wissenschaft als 1950 festgelegt wurde. "11.000 ka BP" bedeuted also 11 Tausend Jahre vor 1950, oder unter Verwendung unseres gewohnten Kalenders: 9050 v. Chr.). δ13C and δ18O were analysed at 100 μm resolution. To gain additional insights in infiltration conditions, Sr/Ca and S/Ca were measured on BB-1 and BB-3 using an Röntgenanalytik Eagle XXL μXRF scanner.
Differences to other central European records (e.g., von Grafenstein et al. 1999, Fohlmeister et al. 2012) suggest complex interaction between multiple factors influencing speleothem δ18O in Blessberg Cave. Furthermore, no clear influence of the North Atlantic Oscillation on our proxiesProxyUmwelt- und Klimainformationen aus der Vergangenheit sind nicht direkt verfügbar, weil niemand da war, der diese messen und aufzeichnen konnte. Daher ist man darauf angewiesen, diese Informationen indirekt aus anderen Informationen abzuleiten, wie z. B. Baumringe, das Verhältnis von Sauerstoffisotopen, Spurenelementen, Mächtigkeit von Sedimentschichten usw. Diese Art von Daten nennt man Proxies, was aus dem englischen stammt und „Stellvertreter“ bedeutet. is found. However, a link across the N Atlantic realm is indicated by a centennial-scale correlation between Blessberg δ18O values and minerogenic input into lake SS1220 in Greenland over the last 5 kaka BPMit "ka BP" sind "Tausend Jahre vor 1950" gemeint. Das "BP" steht für "before present", was in der Paläoklima-Wissenschaft als 1950 festgelegt wurde. "11.000 ka BP" bedeuted also 11 Tausend Jahre vor 1950, oder unter Verwendung unseres gewohnten Kalenders: 9050 v. Chr. (Olsen et al. 2012). In addition, recurrence analysis indicates an imprint of Atlantic Bond events on Blessberg δ18O values (Marwan et al. 2014), corroborating the suggested link with high northern latitudes. Larger runoff into the Greenland lake seems to be associated with lower δ18O, higher δ13C and S/Ca ratios, as well as lower Sr/Ca ratios in Blessberg Cave speleothems. This might be linked to lower local temperature and/or changes in precipitation seasonality. Opposing millennial scale trends with lowering S/Ca ratios and δ13C values but increasing Sr/Ca ratios calls for more than one controlling factor. Most likely, δ13C decreased through the Holocene due to afforestation, which in turn might have increased sulphate retention in the thickening soil cover (Frisia et al. 2005) and limited sulphur flux into the cave. Alternatively, marine sulfur flux could have diminished with winter wind intensities. However, additional data is required to clarify this hypothesis. A positive Sr/Ca trend through the Holocene might result from increasing prior calcite precipitation induced by a negative moisture balance in summer.
The first results of the geochemical analyses of the three stalagmites BB-1 to BB-3 already allow conclusions about the climatic changes of the last 14,000 years. A detailed interpretation can be found in the article Climate zone shift in Central Europe.
The main areas of research of the group are in the field of organic and inorganic trace analysis by using and further developing mass spectrometric methods, often in combination with chromatographic methods.
The group participates in the research in the Blessberg cave by reconstructing the vegetation above the cave by analysing biopolymers in stalagmites and by analysing biochemical fire markers in soil, water, and stalagmite samples.
within the framework of the research project “AquaDiv@Jena”, funded by the ProExcellence Initiative of the Free State of Thuringia, and the Collaborative Research Centre 1076 “AquaDiva“, funded by the DFG
What biodiversity do we find in subsurface habitats such as caves? What role do bacteria play in the Earth’s biogeochemical cycles? Which bacteria are involved in the formation of minerals?
Karst areas are particularly interesting subsurface habitats because they represent one of the most important natural subsurface reservoirs of carbon on Earth. Caves are like a window into these subsurface habitats and allow the exploration of subsurface microbial life. However, it can be difficult to distinguish between microbial communities that are pristine or indigenous and those that have been introduced into caves by animals and humans. The Blessberg cave provides a unique pristine site for the study of active bacterial communities in a karst system.
Using stalactite material and fluvialfluvialDurch fließendes Wasser verursacht; zum Beispiel: "Fluviale Sedimente" = durch fließendes Wasser abgelagertes Material. sediments from the Blessberg cave, the diversity and activity of the occurring bacteria and their formation of carbonate minerals are being investigated. For this purpose, a wide variety of techniques such as phylogenetic analyses, bacterial cultivation, electron microscopy, X-ray spectroscopy, confocal laser scanning microscopy and Raman spectroscopy are applied.
Carbonate precipitates of the bacterial isolate Rhodococcus globerulus SCM4 from the Blessberg cave. EDX mapping underlain by a gray level scanning electron microscopy image; the false colors red, green, and blue show the local occurrence of the elements carbon, oxygen, and calcium, respectively (Image: Elektronenmikroskopisches Zentrum Jena, Sándor Nietzsche and Anna Rusznyak).
The Aquatic Geomicrobiology group exists since 2004 and is headed by Prof. Dr. Kirsten Küsel. The group is has a focus on the role of microorganisms that are driving the Earth’s biogeochemical cycles. Here, microbes are also involved in mediating mineral precipitation and dissolution as well as the sorption of organic material. The research covers the areas of biodiversity, microbial interactions, climate change mitigation, mining, and the deep biosphere.
In the context of the research project “AquaDiv@Jena” and the CRC 1076 “AquaDiva”, the diversity and activity of the bacteria contained in the Blessberg cave and their formation of carbonate minerals were investigated.
@article{Keiner2013,
title = {Raman Spectroscopy—An Innovative and Versatile Tool To Follow the Respirational Activity and Carbonate Biomineralization of Important Cave Bacteria},
author = {Robert Keiner and Torsten Frosch and Stefan Hanf and Anna Rusznyak and Denise M Akob and Kirsten Küsel and Jürgen Popp},
doi = {10.1021/ac401699d},
year = {2013},
date = {2013-09-01},
journal = {Analytical Chemistry},
volume = {85},
number = {18},
pages = {8708–8714},
abstract = {Raman gas spectrometry is introduced as a unique tool for the investigation of the respiratory activity that is indicative for growth of bacteria involved in biomineralization. Growth of these bacteria cannot be monitored using conventional turbidity-based optical density measurements due to concomitant mineral formation in the medium. The respiratory activity of carbonate-precipitating Arthrobacter sulfonivorans, isolated from the recently discovered Herrenberg Cave, was investigated during its lifecycle by means of innovative cavity-enhanced Raman gas analysis. This method allowed rapid and nonconsumptive online quantification of CO2 and O2 in situ in the headspace of the bacterial culture. Carbon dioxide production rates of A. sulfonivorans showed two maxima due to its pleomorphic growth lifecycle. In contrast, only one maximum was observed in control organism Pseudomonas fluorescens with a one-stage lifecycle. Further insight into the biomineralization process over time was provided by a combination of Raman macro- and microspectroscopy. With the help of this spatially resolved chemical imaging of the different types of calcium carbonate minerals, it was elucidated that the surface of the A. sulfonivorans bacterial cells served as nuclei for biomineralization of initially spherical vaterite precipitates. These vaterite biominerals continued growing as chemically stable rock-forming calcite crystals with rough edges. Thus, the utilization of innovative Raman multigas spectroscopy, combined with Raman mineral analysis, provided novel insights into microbial-mediated biomineralization and, therefore, provides a powerful methodology in the field of environmental sciences.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Raman gas spectrometry is introduced as a unique tool for the investigation of the respiratory activity that is indicative for growth of bacteria involved in biomineralization. Growth of these bacteria cannot be monitored using conventional turbidity-based optical density measurements due to concomitant mineral formation in the medium. The respiratory activity of carbonate-precipitating Arthrobacter sulfonivorans, isolated from the recently discovered Herrenberg Cave, was investigated during its lifecycle by means of innovative cavity-enhanced Raman gas analysis. This method allowed rapid and nonconsumptive online quantification of CO2 and O2 in situ in the headspace of the bacterial culture. Carbon dioxide production rates of A. sulfonivorans showed two maxima due to its pleomorphic growth lifecycle. In contrast, only one maximum was observed in control organism Pseudomonas fluorescens with a one-stage lifecycle. Further insight into the biomineralization process over time was provided by a combination of Raman macro- and microspectroscopy. With the help of this spatially resolved chemical imaging of the different types of calcium carbonate minerals, it was elucidated that the surface of the A. sulfonivorans bacterial cells served as nuclei for biomineralization of initially spherical vaterite precipitates. These vaterite biominerals continued growing as chemically stable rock-forming calcite crystals with rough edges. Thus, the utilization of innovative Raman multigas spectroscopy, combined with Raman mineral analysis, provided novel insights into microbial-mediated biomineralization and, therefore, provides a powerful methodology in the field of environmental sciences.
@article{Rusznyak2012,
title = {Calcite Biomineralization by Bacterial Isolates from the Recently Discovered Pristine Karstic Herrenberg Cave},
author = {Anna Rusznyák and Denise M Akob and Sándor Nietzsche and Karin Eusterhues and Kai Uwe Totsche and Thomas R Neu and Torsten Frosch and Jürgen Popp and Robert Keiner and Jörn Geletneky and Lutz Katzschmann and Ernst-Detlef Schulze and Kirsten Küsel},
doi = {10.1128/AEM.06568-11},
year = {2012},
date = {2012-02-01},
journal = {Applied and Environmental Microbiology},
volume = {78},
number = {4},
pages = {1157–1167},
abstract = {Karstic caves represent one of the most important subterranean carbon storages on Earth and provide windows into the subsurface. The recent discovery of the Herrenberg Cave, Germany, gave us the opportunity to investigate the diversity and potential role of bacteria in carbonate mineral formation. Calcite was the only mineral observed by Raman spectroscopy to precipitate as stalactites from seepage water. Bacterial cells were found on the surface and interior of stalactites by confocal laser scanning microscopy. Proteobacteria dominated the microbial communities inhabiting stalactites, representing more than 70% of total 16S rRNA gene clones. Proteobacteria formed 22 to 34% of the detected communities in fluvial sediments, and a large fraction of these bacteria were also metabolically active. A total of 9 isolates, belonging to the genera Arthrobacter , Flavobacterium , Pseudomonas , Rhodococcus , Serratia , and Stenotrophomonas , grew on alkaline carbonate-precipitating medium. Two cultures with the most intense precipitate formation, Arthrobacter sulfonivorans and Rhodococcus globerulus , grew as aggregates, produced extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), and formed mixtures of calcite, vaterite, and monohydrocalcite. R. globerulus formed idiomorphous crystals with rhombohedral morphology, whereas A. sulfonivorans formed xenomorphous globular crystals, evidence for taxon-specific crystal morphologies. The results of this study highlighted the importance of combining various techniques in order to understand the geomicrobiology of karstic caves, but further studies are needed to determine whether the mineralogical biosignatures found in nutrient-rich media can also be found in oligotrophic caves.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Karstic caves represent one of the most important subterranean carbon storages on Earth and provide windows into the subsurface. The recent discovery of the Herrenberg Cave, Germany, gave us the opportunity to investigate the diversity and potential role of bacteria in carbonate mineral formation. Calcite was the only mineral observed by Raman spectroscopy to precipitate as stalactites from seepage water. Bacterial cells were found on the surface and interior of stalactites by confocal laser scanning microscopy. Proteobacteria dominated the microbial communities inhabiting stalactites, representing more than 70% of total 16S rRNA gene clones. Proteobacteria formed 22 to 34% of the detected communities in fluvialfluvialDurch fließendes Wasser verursacht; zum Beispiel: "Fluviale Sedimente" = durch fließendes Wasser abgelagertes Material. sediments, and a large fraction of these bacteria were also metabolically active. A total of 9 isolates, belonging to the genera Arthrobacter , Flavobacterium , Pseudomonas , Rhodococcus , Serratia , and Stenotrophomonas , grew on alkaline carbonate-precipitating medium. Two cultures with the most intense precipitate formation, Arthrobacter sulfonivorans and Rhodococcus globerulus , grew as aggregates, produced extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), and formed mixtures of calcite, vaterite, and monohydrocalcite. R. globerulus formed idiomorphous crystals with rhombohedral morphology, whereas A. sulfonivorans formed xenomorphous globular crystals, evidence for taxon-specific crystal morphologies. The results of this study highlighted the importance of combining various techniques in order to understand the geomicrobiology of karstic caves, but further studies are needed to determine whether the mineralogical biosignatures found in nutrient-rich media can also be found in oligotrophic caves.
The first three stalagmites from the Bleßberg Cave (BB-1, BB-2, BB-3) grew during the last 10,000 years or so, the Holocene. By analysing stable isotopes and trace elements, various aspects of the past environmental and climatic conditions will be reconstructed. Although there are already first interesting published results, the investigation of these samples continues.
