Crystallochemical transformation of phyllosilicates under the impact of cyanobacteria and actinomycetes

The transformation of the crystallochemical structure of phyllosilicates (vermiculite and biotite) under the impact of growing cyanobacterial and actinomycetal associations, as well as monocultures of cyanobacteria and actinomycetes, has been studied. The character of the mineral transformation depends on their crystallochemical structure and the type of biota. The most significant changes take place in the contact zone between minerals and microbial associations; the effect of microbial monocultures is smaller. The transformation of biotite proceeds via the stage of ordered mica-vermiculite (smectite) neoformation (rectorite); the destruction of vermiculite has been identified.