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Abstract

Living organisms can also weather rocks. There are microorganisms in deep rock – in the "deep biosphere". With flowing water, the microbes are transported from soil through the fractures to depth. Down there, in complete darkness, the microbes live on water, carbon, and energy. They can oxidise iron in minerals and receive energy in the process. The iron-containing minerals are oxidised, carbon is consumed, and more and more microbes are created. This is how the deep biosphere keeps itself alive and weathers the rock at the same time.