A Summary of Some Microbes Identified from Different Indian Caves and Their Possible Role in Mineral Formations

摘要

Microbe-mineral interactions in caves can lead to secondary mineralformations such as speleothems, moonmilk etc. In the present review, weprovide a summary of geomicrobiological work done so far in some Indiancaves. Microbially induced mineralization is documented in cave ecosystemsand microbial metabolisms help in mineral formations either throughdirect/active or indirect/passive processes. Laboratory based experimentsconducted on speleothems from Sahastradhara caves (Dehradun); Borra Cave(Andhra Pradesh); Krem Phyllut, Krem Mawsmai, Krem Mawmluh andRongai Dobhakol (Meghalaya) have clearly demonstrated that bacterialstrains isolated from these caves have the capability to precipitate mineralsundercontrolled conditions.