Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

Magnetotactic bacteria and single-domain magnetite in hemipelagic sediments

Nature volume 321, pages 849–851 (1986)Cite this article

Abstract

Remanent magnetism in marine sediments has been used extensively over the past twenty years to calibrate the geological time-scale, study geomagnetic reversals and secular variation, and measure the rates of seafloor spreading. Although these sediments may contain different magnetic minerals, magnetite is the most commonly observed and magnetically stable phase, and its size, shape and post-depositional fate affect the magnetic remanence of the sediments. Biogenic magnetites are single-domain, with a high natural magnetic remanence (NRM), and have been suggested as a significant source of magnetic remanence in marine sediments. We have studied surface sediments from the Santa Barbara Basin and report the occurrence of living magnetotactic bacteria and the deposition of biogenic ultra-fine-grained, single-domain magnetite. Using a novel extraction technique, transmission electron microscopy and SQUID magnetometry, we show that these bacteria and the magnetite they produce are the major source of stable remanent magnetism in these sediments.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Relevant articles

Open Access articles citing this article.

Access options

Rent or buy this article

Get just this article for as long as you need it

$39.95

Learn more

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

References

  1. Karlin, R. & Levi, S. Nature 303, 327–330 (1983).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Lund, S. P. et al. Eos 64, 683 (1983).

    Google Scholar 

  3. Karlin, R. & Levi, S. J. geophys. Res. 90, 10373–10392 (1985).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  4. Leslie, B. et al. Eos 65, 957 (1984).

    Google Scholar 

  5. Chang, S.-B. R. & Kirschvink, J. L. in Magnetite Biomineralization and Magnetoreception Organisms (eds Kirschvink, J. L. et al.) 647–669 (Plenum, New York, 1985).

    Book  Google Scholar 

  6. Towe, K. M. in Magnetic Biomineralization and Magnetoreception in Organisms (eds Kirschvink, J. L. et al.) 167–181 (Plenum, New York, 1985).

    Book  Google Scholar 

  7. Butler, R. F. & Banerjee, S. K. J. geophys. Res. 80, 4049–4058 (1975).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Blakemore, R. P. A. Rev. Microbiol. 36, 217–238 (1982).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Towe, K. M. & Moench, T. T. Earth planet. Sci. Lett. 52, 213–220 (1981).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Frankel, R. B. A. Rev. Biophys. Bioengng 13, 85–103 (1984).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Fuller, M. et al. in Magnetite Biomineralization and Magnetoreception in Organisms (eds Kirschvink, J. L. et al.) 103–151 (Plenum, New York, 1985).

    Book  Google Scholar 

  12. Chang, S.-B. R., Stolz, J. F. & Kirschvink, J. L. Phys. Earth planet. Inter. (in the press).

  13. Cisowski, S. Phys. Earth planet. Inter. 26, 56–62 (1981).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Nelson, J. & Jannasch, H. Archs Microbiol. 136, 262–269 (1983).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Blakemore, R. P. et al. Geomicrobiol. J. 4, 53–71 (1984).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Savrda, C. E. et al. Bull. Am. Ass. Petrol. Geol. 68, 1179–1192 (1984).

    Google Scholar 

  17. Demitrack, A. in Magnetite Biomineralization and Magnetoreception in Organisms (eds Kirschvink, J. L. et al.) 625–645 (Plenum, New York, 1985).

    Book  Google Scholar 

  18. Von Dobeneck, T. et al. Int. Ass. Geomagnetism Aeronomy Meet. Abstr. 1, 214 (1985).

    Google Scholar 

  19. Petersen, N., von Dobeneck, T. & Vali, H. Nature 320, 611–615 (1986).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Frankel, R. B. Nature 320, 575 (1986).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Jet Propulsion Laboratory 125-112, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, California, 91109, USA

    John F. Stolz

  2. Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences 170-25, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, 91125, USA

    Shih-Bin R. Chang & Joseph L. Kirschvink

Authors
  1. John F. Stolz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Shih-Bin R. Chang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Joseph L. Kirschvink
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Stolz, J., Chang, SB. & Kirschvink, J. Magnetotactic bacteria and single-domain magnetite in hemipelagic sediments. Nature 321, 849–851 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1038/321849a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/321849a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing