Snottite and Biovermiculation Microscopy and Spectroscopy

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SEM image
SEM image (15000x) of the internal structure of a snottite sampled in April, 1998. Note the gypsum crystals with the gauze-like substance woven in amongst the crystals. We presume this gauze-like substance is a more refractory form of polysaccharides. Photo by Spilde, Northup, and Boston. (973k)

SEM image
SEM image (10,000x) of a long view of a field of bacteria in the snottites. Closeup images of a portion of this field are available below. Sampled April, 1998 by Northup and Boston. Photo by Spilde, Northup, and Boston.

SEM image
SEM image (13,000x) of bacterial bodies located in a snottite sampled April, 1998 by Northup and Boston. Photo by Spilde, Northup, and Boston.

SEM image
SEM image (15,000x) closeup of above bacterial bodies and mineral material. Photo by Spilde, Northup, and Boston.

SEM image
Putative bacteria on gypsum needles sampled January, 1998 near some snottites. Photo by Spilde, Northup, and Boston.

SEM image
Enlargement of putative bacteria on gypsum needles sampled January, 1998 near some snottites. Photo by Spilde, Northup, and Boston.

SEM image
SEM image (5000x) of white gypsum paste sampled in January, 1998 next to the snottites. The pH of this paste can be so low that it zeros out our field pH meter. Photo by Spilde, Northup, and Boston.

SEM image
SEM backscattered electron image (300x) of sulphur (white) and gypsum (medium gray) crystals from a sample (January 1998) of sulfur from the wall of the cave. Photo by Spilde, Northup, and Boston.

Epifluorescent Images of Bacteria in Biovermiculations


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