Bio-weathering of granites from Eastern Dharwar Craton (India): a tango of bacterial metabolism and mineral chemistry

The bio-weathering process contributes majorly in the physical shaping of earth’s surface. weathering mineral is coupled to formation new minerals and release bio-available nutrients for flora as well microbial communities. Granites from Eastern Dharwar Craton (EDC) India are felsic plutonic igneous rock composed nutritive minerals. major elemental composition granite such that, it forms an ancient ecological niche diverse Interdisciplinary approaches were taken construct a more comprehensive understanding potential functional attributes Actinobacteria granite. This work includes molecular characterization isolated strains, detecting their bioweathering potentials through leaching experiments where Nocardioides showed highest indices with iron (Fe) being most leached element (~ 6372 ppm). Scanning electron microscopic imaging indicated biofilm Actinobacterial hyphae colonization. Petrographic, XRD FTIR based study shows secondary (kaolinite, vermiculite smectite). To further establish hypothesis soil nutrition transport, long-term (360 days) microcosm was developed. Deterioration grain size alternations increase clay vermiculite) total protein content observed. A bioinformatics biodiversity approach link global rocks by genus adopted understand distribution patterns contribution alterations