Preservation Style of Microbes in Siliceous Sinter Around Old Faithful Geyser, Yellowstone National Park, USA

Abstract

Siliceous sinters form at the surface as alkali chloride hot springs discharge and cool to temperatures below 100 °C. During this process, the silica carried in solution precipitates and accumulates to form sinters. The precipitating silica also silicifies everything in its flow path, including hot spring microbes. Fifteen siliceous sinter samples were examined under a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) to observe microbial preservation from sinter surrounding Old Faithful Geyser in Yellowstone National Park, USA. Our SEM images record pristine preservation styles of both low- and mid-temperature microbes. Low-temperature microbes thrive in 8 µm. Mid-temperature microbes live in 35 to 59°C water and our mid-temperature sinter samples revealed filamentous microbes with total exterior diameters of