Experimental constraints on Fe isotope fractionation during magnetite and Fe carbonate formation coupled to dissimilatory hydrous ferric oxide reduction

The relative order of δ56Fe values for these biogenic minerals and aqueous Fe(II) is: magnetite > siderite ≈ Fe(II)aq > Ca-bearing Fe carbonate, and this is similar to that observed for minerals from natural samples such as Banded Iron Formations (BIFs). Where magnetite from BIFs has δ56Fe >0‰, the calculated δ56Fe value for aqueous Fe(II) suggests a source from midocean ridge (MOR) hydrothermal fluids. In contrast, magnetite from BIFs that has δ56Fe ≤0‰ apparently requires formation from aqueous Fe(II) that had very low δ56Fe values. Based on this experimental study, formation of low-δ56Fe Fe(II)aq in nonsulfidic systems seems most likely to have been produced by dissimilatory reduction of ferric oxides by Fe(III)-reducing bacteria.