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CAREER: Do microbes form caves? Sulfide oxidation and limestone corrosion in sulfuric acid — NSF Award to New Mexico Institute of

Some of the world’s largest and most spectacular limestone caves, including Carlsbad Cavern and Lechuguilla Cave in New Mexico, were created by sulfuric acid. These caves form where groundwaters carrying dissolved hydrogen sulfide are exposed to oxygen, usually at or near the cave water table. Hydrogen sulfide is unsta

Award titleCAREER: Do microbes form caves? Sulfide oxidation and limestone corrosion in sulfuric acid
Award ID2239710
AwardeeNew Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
CitySOCORRO
StateNM
Amount obligated$908,945
Principal investigatorDaniel Jones
ProgramGeobiology & Low-Temp Geochem, LET-Life & Enviro Through Time, EDUCATION AND HUMAN RESOURCES
Start date06/15/2023
AbstractSome of the world’s largest and most spectacular limestone caves, including Carlsbad Cavern and Lechuguilla Cave in New Mexico, were created by sulfuric acid. These caves form where groundwaters carrying dissolved hydrogen sulfide are exposed to oxygen, usually at or near the cave water table. Hydrogen sulfide is unstable in the presence of oxygen, and it rapidly reacts to form sulfuric acid and other sulfur compounds that dissolve limestone and precipitate new minerals. And because of the abund
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