M.I.S.S. - M.A.R.S.

W. E. KrumbeinICBM, University of Oldenburg

Germany

DFG-Priority Programme MARS and the terrestrial Planets- IV. MMII Münster W. E. KRUMBEIN M.A.R.S.

Classification of Biostructures

DFG-Priority Programme MARS and the terrestrial Planets- IV. MMII Münster W. E. KRUMBEIN M.A.R.S.

Classification of BiostructuresM.I.S.S. M.A.R.S.

Petees Pitting

Baffling Cracking

Elephant Skin Patina

Floating Grains Chipping

Grain Sorting Exfoliation

DFG-Priority Programme MARS and the terrestrial Planets- IV. MMII Münster W. E. KRUMBEIN M.A.R.S.

Biopitting of Keats (Foreigner cemetery of Rome)

DFG-Priority Programme MARS and the terrestrial Planets- IV. MMII Münster W. E. KRUMBEIN M.A.R.S.

Microbial and mechanical alterations of rock surfaces

DFG-Priority Programme MARS and the terrestrial Planets- IV. MMII Münster W. E. KRUMBEIN M.A.R.S.

What is Biopitting?• Biopitting is a natural

phenomenon related to the activity of rock inhabiting microbiota

• Biopitting is characteristic for erosional features more rapid and more specific than chemical or physical erosion

• Biopitting can be classified into several orders of magnitude (micro-,meso-,macro-,megapits)

• Biopitting can be classified by organism (bacterial, cyanobacterial, fungal, lichen generated structures)

DFG-Priority Programme MARS and the terrestrial Planets- IV. MMII Münster W. E. KRUMBEIN M.A.R.S.

Biopitting is produced mainly by lichen and fungal biofilms/networks

• Biopitting is produced by lichens, free living fungi, actinomycetes and bacteria including cyanobacteria.

• It was shown in the field and laboratory that they penetrate even resistant silicate rocks creating bioerosional structures

• Biopitting is a very fast biodeterioration process

• It proceeds chemical or mechanical upon chemical conditioning.

DFG-Priority Programme MARS and the terrestrial Planets- IV. MMII Münster W. E. KRUMBEIN M.A.R.S.

The microbial Network detection

Make the Invisible visible, see the dimensions

DFG-Priority Programme MARS and the terrestrial Planets- IV. MMII Münster W. E. KRUMBEIN M.A.R.S.

Microbial alterations of rock colour are difficult to detect

DFG-Priority Programme MARS and the terrestrial Planets- IV. MMII Münster W. E. KRUMBEIN M.A.R.S.

Black meristematic poikilophilic yeast form tiny hard colonies and satellite colonies causing stains; mechanical

perforation is typical; pigment formed can be excreted, and lead to biopatina or rock varnish formation

DFG-Priority Programme MARS and the terrestrial Planets- IV. MMII Münster W. E. KRUMBEIN M.A.R.S.

Biopatina formation on the monument and the quarry

DFG-Priority Programme MARS and the terrestrial Planets- IV. MMII Münster W. E. KRUMBEIN M.A.R.S.

• In 1850 the Acropolis carried an orange patina created by lichens and fungi

• In 1900 the patina had changed to black stained patina created by surface growth of black yeast and cyanobacteria

• In 1950 the marble at the surface was white while the flora retreated into the rock

DFG-Priority Programme MARS and the terrestrial Planets- IV. MMII Münster W. E. KRUMBEIN M.A.R.S.

Microcolonial fungi on limestone of the Negev Desert and in marble of the

Acropolis, Athens

DFG-Priority Programme MARS and the terrestrial Planets- IV. MMII Münster W. E. KRUMBEIN M.A.R.S.

Microbially Altered Rock Surfaces (M.A.R.S.) -can biologically produced alterations be analysed

by remote sensing techniques?