Other Iron Bacteria of Late September—1

October 15, 2014

Enamored as I am with Leptothrix discophora films, I also get a kick out of the rusty deposits (flocs) that the iron bacteria precipitate out of the water. On the same day that I found the prismatic films whose photographs I have been posting these two weeks, I was negotiating a somewhat treacherous part of slanted riverbank. I had my eyes and total concentration on my feet and walking stick. As soon as I felt safe, I looked up and heard my breath leave my body in an involuntary gasp. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen such a large swath of flocs. While some flocs sat directly on the shale, others coated filamentous or puffy bits of algae. The first photo shows a detail; the second is a composite of the complete expanse. To me, it was a beautiful sight.

October 15, 2014 | Categories: Iron Oxide, Leptothrix discophora, Nature, River, Shale, Stones and Rocks, Water | Tags: Algae, floc, iron bacteria, leaves, Leptothrix discophora, nature, Northern Ohio, photography, Vermilion River | 4 Comments