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Old 07-20-2014, 10:02 PM   #6 (permalink)
jamesqf
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Quote:
Originally Posted by freebeard View Post
So, rust has been bacteria poop all along? Who knew.
It's interesting to note that most iron ore deposits are also the result of biological action. When cyanobacteria evolved photosynthesis, about 2.5 billion years ago, the oxygen at first reacted with dissolved iron &c in the oceans. Only when most of that iron had been oxidized and precipitated out could O2 build up in the atmosphere. See e.g. 'The Great Oxygenation Event'.
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