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Weathering of Mica by Fungi¹

ABSTRACT

Three trioctahedral micas and one dioctahedral mica (1–5µ size fractions) were used as sources of K⁺ for seven fungi grown in nutrient solution buffered at pH 6. Vermiculite formed from the mica. The mechanism involved was exchange of solution Na⁺ for mica K⁺, with the fungi functioning as K⁺-sinks. Reducing the concentration of solution Na⁺ from 0.054M to 0.017M resulted in decreased rate of utilization of mica K⁺. Growth of fungi and release of K⁺ were greater for trioctahedral micas than for the dioctahedral mica and generally followed the K⁺ ease-of-release pattern established using sodium tetraphenylboron and NaCl solutions. The fungi differed in their capacities to promote the mica-to-vermiculite transition, and this was probably due mainly to their relative effectiveness as K⁺-sinks.

¹ Paper no. 7832 of the Journal Series of the North Carolina State University Agr. Exp. Sta., Raleigh, N.C. Presented before a joint session of Div. S-3, S-5, and S-7, Soil Science Society of America, Washington, D.C., Nov. 6, 1967.

² Professor, Professor, and Associate Professor, respectively, North Carolina State University at Raleigh.

Received for publication February 21, 1969. Accepted for publication June 23, 1969.