Abstract:

Microbial weathering is one of the most important supergene processes, closely connected with global cycle of several
elements and local environmental contamination, such as heavy metal contamination in mine districts. It is widely found that the
attachment of microorganism on mineral surface can remarkably enhance the weathering of minerals. In this paper, the apparent
weathering  rate and surface erosion are discussed based on  the brief summary of  the characteristics of surface attachment of
microbes on minerals. The driving  force of  the attaching behavior and  its  influence  factors are preliminarily analyzed, and  the
investigation on the microbe-mineral interface is emphasized. Transdisciplinary studies in molecular biology, surface mineralogy
and micro-ecology are necessary  to disclose  the mechanism of microbial weathering at molecular  level, which  is helpful  for
evaluating the geochemical significance of bio-weathering and the regulation ability of local environmental issues.

Key words: microbial weathering, surface attachment, interfacial process, environment