Hidden Earth 2025

Once upon a slime: snottites and biofilms in neutral mine drainage environments in Derbyshire

30 minute Lecture|Jo White

Abstract

Snottites resemble stalactites composed of jelly-like microbial biofilms. They are traditionally defined as living in highly acidic environments (pH 0-1). However, Derbyshire mine drainage adits (soughs) are pH neutral. To discuss snottites from these environments required a redefinition of snottites to include a wider range of pH environments. I therefore developed 3 models of snottite formation to work towards a broader definition of snottites.

Snottites and other biofilms from pH neutral environments are also largely unstudied. My PhD research focused on examining the microbial populations of pH neutral mine drainage environments, and their survival mechanisms. Using a combination of geochemical and microbiological data I constructed metabolic cycles which suggest the processes that microbial communities are using to survive in these nutrient-poor environments.