Recreating manganese minerals – Microbe-Mineral Lab

How should we interpret ancient manganese deposits?

Due to the modern dependence of manganese on O₂ and oxygen-derived species, manganese deposits have long been interpreted as reflecting changes in the redox state of the local or global environment. However, surprisingly little is constrained about the formation processes behind the dominant manganese minerals in the geologic record. We are working to recreate important manganese minerals like the manganese silicate braunite and manganese-rich carbonates in controlled experiments to better interpret what these minerals are signaling about past environments and (bio)geochemistry.