THE WITWATERSRAND DEEP MICROBIOLOGY PROJECT:PRIVATE SITE

Mining Map of Evander Mine with location of sampling sites

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Map of Evander Basin with depth and thickness contours for the Karoo, Pretoria Gp. and Dolomite Gp.

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Structural Map of Evander Basin with location of mine shafts

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Geological Block Map of Evander Mine

Cross section of Evander Mine.

Evander-Aqueous Geochemistry, Dissolved Gas and Microbial Results
(courtesy of Princeton University, University of Toronto, 

Envirogen Inc., New Mexico Tech., Univ. of Witswatersrand and Colin Ralston of Evander Mine)

The tables below list data available for samples of fissure water collected fromthe three shafts at Evander mine and the overlying SASOL mine.The analyses are ordered from right to left according to the salinity.The salinity is highly variable and rangingfrom 0.1 to 1.0 wt%.

The data include field measurements of pH, pe, dissolved O2, temperature, conductivity, and water and gas flow rates. The number of microbial cells, as detected by flow cytometry (detection limit <5 x 103 cells/ml),are reported.The types of microorganisms that have been successfully cultivated in the laboratory at room temperature (viewed as contaminants with the exception of the dolomite water), 60oC (thermophiles) and 80oC (hyperthermophiles).SRB are sulfate reducing bacteria.Het. are heterotrophic (organic carbon utilizers).Me are methanogens.IRB are Fe(III) reducing bacteria.Sox are sulfide oxidizing bacteria.Thio.are thiosulfate oxidizing bacteria.In the case of Evander samples, the enrichment laboratory was not operational at the time of sampling.Samples for microbial enrichments will be collected in future sampling visits.The TOC is total organic carbon , followed by specific carboxylic acids commonly utilized by bacteria. CO2 represents the total inorganic carbon.These analyses are followed by the anions, major cations and the trace metals.The last part of the table represents the calculated saturation levels, of S.I. of various minerals.S.I.= 0 means the mineral is at saturation. S.I. > 0 means the mineral phase will form a precipitate.S.I.< 0 means the mineral phase will dissolve.

In other mines fissure water is most readily distinguished from service water by the relative proportions of anions. Service water is low in chloride relative to bromide, high in sulfate (due to sulfide oxidation) and high in nitrate (due to explosives).Evander water samples do not contain any nitrate and highly variable concentrations of sulfate. They are largely comprised of Na, Ca and Cl.The water contains surprisingly high levels of ammonia. The microbial concentrations are fairly significant given the high levels of ammonia and enrichments performed under variable ammonia concentrations are merited.The source of the ammonia needs to be resolved. Evander914 is the lowest salinity sample and is fairly alkaline compared to other Evander samples.In many respects, it resemble the water found in the Karroo coal formation at SASOL.Fissure water is typically oversaturated with respect to calcite and this is consistent with observations of calcite filling water-bearing fractures. Fissure water typically contains no dissolved O2.

Evander818 has been sampled at three different times and exhibits a steady increase in salinity.EV818 has also yielded room temperature, thermophilic and hyperthermophilic microorganisms.


 

 

SampleName

MBNWFW 040301 Sec49

EV914dFW 022801 ED

EV811FW 
030501 XC1A

EV219FW 030901ED hole 5

EV219FW 030901ED hole 1

EV522FW 030801 HWD

EV522FW 041801 CTS hole 1

EV818FW 030601 NEPD

EV818FW 051001 NEPD

EV818 062101 FBH

Depth (kmbls.)

0.2

1.4

1.5

1.5

1.5

1.6

1.6

1.8

1.8

1.8

pH

10.2

>10

9.2

8

7.4

7.2

7

8.7

8.4

7.8

Eh (mv)

-120

N.A.

-280

-260

-250

-4.9

N.A.

-208

-380

-240

pe

-2.02

N.A.

-4.58 (-6.2)

-4.29

-4.14

-0.08

 

-3.29 (-5.5)

-6.19

-3.8

Cond. (mS/cm)

1.67

N.A.

2.43

2.43

3.22

5.5

7.07

16.44

13.7

7.01

ToC

26.5

33

35

32

30.9

36.7

32

45

36?

45

O2 (ppm)

0.6

0

0

2.5

N.A.

0

0.6

2

0.4

0

Alkalinity (ppm)

>50

N.A.

>100

>100

N.A.

60

50

>100

35

30

Water Flow Rate (ml/min)

35,000

283,333

very high flow rate.We were sitting in a waterfall.

575-600

100-125

106,000

700

15,000

1200

N.A.

Gas Flow Rate (ml/min)

2,855

N.A.

0

850-900

100-150

250

120

>7,500

2400

N.A.

Microbial Properties

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Direct Counts 04/01(cells/ml)

N.A.

1.20E+07

?

?

N.A.

?

?

9.00E+04

?

?

Direct Counts 08/01(cells/ml)

N.A.

1.2e6, 7.8e5 and 4e5

2.1e5, 5.9e4

<5e3

<5e3

<5e3

<5e3

1.07E+04

4.96e4, 1.26e4

1.35e4, 4e4

MPN's (cells/ml)

N.A.

N.A.

N.A.

N.A.

N.A.

N.A.

N.A.

N.A.

Me31, Dil. Het.25, 28, 30, SRB26

 

PositiveEnrichments 80oC

N.A.

N.A.

N.A.

N.A.

N.A.

N.A.

N.A.

N.A.

Me11, SRB7, 15, Dil. Het.6,13

SRB, Thio.

PositiveEnrichments 60oC

 

N.A.

N.A.

N.A.

N.A.

N.A.

N.A.

N.A.

Me, Dil. Het.2, 4, 5, SRB1,3, IRB

SRB, Thio., Me, Het.

PositiveEnrichments Room T

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Anions & Cations(ppm)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOC

N.A.

N.A.

2.3

4.6

N.A.

2.4

3.5

2.6

5.7

3.1

acetate

N.A.

0.137

N.A.

n.d.

N.A.

0.096

N.A.

N.D.

N.A.

N.A.

propionate

N.A.

N.D.

N.A.

0.98

N.A.

N.D.

N.A.

N.D.

N.A.

N.A.

formate

N.A.

0.0024

N.A.

0.006

N.A.

N.D.

N.A.

N.D.

N.A.

N.A.

CO2 Total(Chemnet)

<10

50