Lipid Evidence for Oil Depletion by Sulfate-Reducing Bacteria during U Mineralization in the Dongsheng Deposit

Abstract

Fatty acids were extracted from fluid inclusions, and analyzed for distribution and individual δ¹³C values to determine if there exists sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) and what substrates SRB depleted during U mineralization in the Dongsheng deposit. The 10-methylhexadecanoic acid (10Me16:0) has been detected from most of the samples using GC-MS based on relative retention time and co-injection of standard 10Me16:0 compound. Samples with higher 10Me16:0 concentrations, show higher U contents. The presence of 10Me16:0 along with iso-ω7-cis-heptadecenoic acid (i17:1ω7c) and ω7-cis-octadecenoic acid (18:1ω7c) in the fluid inclusions may indicate the occurrence of SRB during the U mineralization. Saturated fatty-acids and unsaturated fatty-acids detected in this study have individual δ¹³C values from -30.3‰ to -28.5‰ and -30.5‰ to -27.9‰, respectively. These values are close to those of n-alkanes of the associated oils and the bulk oils, but significantly distinct from methane, thus the oils are concluded to have been used as substrate for the microorganisms to survive on. This proposal is supported by oil biodegradation and ore-stage calcite cement with δ¹³C values from -1.4‰ to -17.2‰.

Keywords

fatty acids / sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) / individual lipid carbon isotope / sulfur isotope / uranium deposit

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