
Overview
Background
Professor Southam is a Professor in Geomicrobiology. He is an interdisciplinary researcher who crosses the traditional boundaries between biological and geological sciences to examine bacterial transformations of materials composing the earth’s crust, and the impact these transformations have had over geologic time. Field sites have ranged from Yellostone National Park, to Axel Heiberg Island in the Canadian high arctic, to the ultradeep gold mines in the Republic of Southam Africa (up to 4 km below land surface, to the Amazon Basin. Following his appointment as a Canada Research Chair in Geomicrobiology and Director of Environment and Sustainability at Western University, Canada, Dr. Southam has moved to the University of Queensland where he is leading projects on:
Mineral carbonation, using acid generating bacteria to enhance weathering of ultramafic mine waste, promoting mineral carbonation (CO2 sequestration);
Bioremediation of iron mine sites, by enhancing the biogeochemical cycling of iron to promote the formation of ferruginous duricrusts (canga), and
Bioleaching, focussing on low-grade copper in arid through tropical ecosystems (Australia and Brazil);
Gold exploration, examining the fundamental roles that bacteria play in catalysing the formation of placer gold.
Availability
- Professor Gordon Southam is:
- Available for supervision
Qualifications
- Bachelor (Honours) of Science (Advanced), University of Guelph
- Doctor of Philosophy, University of Guelph
Research interests
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Life in Extreme Environments / Bacterial Fossilisation
The growth of bacteria in extreme environments combined with their metal-reactive cell envelopes often results in their fossilization in these environments. The preservation of cellular and molecular biomarkers in ancients Earth systems can teach us about the evolution of life on Earth and their influence on lithosphere-hydrosphere-atmosphere system processes. The diversity of life’s extremes is also intriguing with the respect to the possibility of life occurring elsewhere in the solar system, e.g., Mars. Current research is improving our understanding of the fundamental processes responsible for fossilisation in contemporary and ancient Earth environments, e.g., the biooxidation of iron and subsequent per-mineralization in arid, acid environments.
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Bioleaching
Present day mining operations have reached geological scales. Entire mountains are being mined, crushed, sorted, transported, smelted, and consumed by an ever-increasing human population. In parallel, new landscapes are being created with the waste products, often low-grade or lesser-quality ores. Extracting resources from these low-grade ores presents major challenges that we propose to address by determining the critical steps controlling the biooxidation of copper sulphides, in particular, chalcopyrite. The solubilisation, speciation, fractionation and precipitation of many metals and metal ions are directly and indirectly influenced by microbial activity (Southam & Saunders, 2005). The significance of microbial catalysis is highlighted in Enders et al. (2006) where we demonstrated the role of bacteria in the supergene weathering of Fe and Cu at Morenci, AZ, the largest copper mine in North America, producing 1,000 tonnes of Cu/day through bacterial leaching. The biogeochemical oxidation of iron and sulphur in pyrite enhances the dissolution of copper, which can lead to supergene enrichment over geologic time scales (Enders et al., 2006) and can be exploited for the recovery of Cu through bioleaching.
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Canga
Supergene enriched iron-ore deposits are typically protected by a goethite-cemented ferruginous duricrust layer referred to as canga. The formation of canga horizons has been linked to the biogeochemical cycling of iron. Incredibly, no work on the biogeochemistry of canga has been done. These supergene Fe-ore systems are actively forming in the tropics by weathering of banded iron formations. Canga forms extensive deposits blanketing ancient erosion surfaces, is tough, moderately hard, well consolidated, permeable and very resistant to erosion and chemical weathering, protecting the relatively soft enriched iron ore below. This protective canga horizon is therefore, essential to supergene iron ore enrichment and formation of high-grade iron ore. Canga hosts unique, endemic open herbaceous-shrubs, dominated by hemicryptophytes that are in dramatic contrast to the surrounding vegetation, especially in the Carajás and Quadrilátero Ferrífero regions of Brazil where tropical rainforests surrounds these ‘islands’ of canga. Effective restoration of mined iron sites to re-establish these unique ecosystems requires the re-precipitation of canga, a process never previously attempted. Studying the biology of these systems, i.e., the biogeochemical cycling of iron and the identification of novel biotechnologically important organisms is essential for the success of this project.
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Gold
Gold is a relatively inert metal, yet it is often found as concentrated placer deposits. These deposits are unusual because the gold nuggets recovered from them can be larger than the gold found in the source rock. Using gold-thiosulfate, the gold complex important in base metal sulphide systems, we demonstrated that thiosulfate-oxidising and thiosulfate-reducing bacteria can produce octahedral gold, similar to the interaction between bacteria and gold(III)-chloride complexes. Synchrotron results have begun to elucidate the mechanism of octahedral gold formation, demonstrating that organosulphur-Au(I) compounds are the intermediate complex produced during the reaction between bacteria and gold(III) chloride. Both complexes are important to the biogeochemical cycling of gold in natural systems. Recent evidence of biofilms on gold grains demonstrates that biogeochemical processing of gold is occurring in nature and is therefore, fundamentally important to mineral exploration programs.
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Mineral Carbonation
Ultramafic and mafic mine tailings are a potentially valuable feedstock for carbon mineralization that should be used to offset carbon emissions generated by mining. Passive carbon mineralization is occurring at the abandoned Clinton Creek asbestos mine, and the active Diavik diamond and Mount Keith nickel mines. Microbially mediated processes have the potential to accelerate carbon mineralization to create economically viable, large-scale carbon dioxide fixation technologies that can operate at ambient temperature and atmospheric pressure. Bioleaching of magnesium silicates (serpentine, olivine); increasing the supply of CO2 via heterotrophic oxidation of waste organics; and biologically induced carbonate precipitation, as well as enhancing passive carbonation through tailings management practices and use of CO2 point sources. With the aim of developing carbon-neutral mines, tailings storage facilities could be geoengineered as habitats for microbial communities that accelerate carbon mineralization.
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Methanogenesis
The methanogenesis project aims to determine how microorganisms degrade coal and to demonstrate the feasibility of producing biogenic methane from waste coal in an abandoned mine. Through this project, we will conduct a microbial survey of at least two Bowen Basin coal mines to identify the organisms that thrive where coal is the sole source of organic carbon. The future methane production of these mines will be determined in a laboratory trial using two different chemical regimes, one possessing a gradient from aerobic to anaerobic conditions and in the other solely anaerobic. Finally, coal will be separated into physical and chemical fractions to determine why coal degradation by anaerobic organisms is limited by the hydrolysis step during methane production.
Works
Search Professor Gordon Southam’s works on UQ eSpace
1994
Journal Article
Tip-Induced Displacement and Imaging of a Multilayered Bacterial Structure by Scanning-Tunneling-Microscopy
Firtel, M, Xu, W, Southam, G, Mulhern, PJ, Blackford, B, Jericho, MH and Beveridge, TJ (1994). Tip-Induced Displacement and Imaging of a Multilayered Bacterial Structure by Scanning-Tunneling-Microscopy. Ultramicroscopy, 55 (1), 113-119. doi: 10.1016/0304-3991(94)90085-X
1994
Journal Article
Nickel Sulfide, Iron-Nickel Sulfide and Iron Sulfide Precipitation by a Newly Isolated Desulfotomaculum Species and its Relation to Nickel Resistance
Fortin, D, Southam, G and Beveridge, TJ (1994). Nickel Sulfide, Iron-Nickel Sulfide and Iron Sulfide Precipitation by a Newly Isolated Desulfotomaculum Species and its Relation to Nickel Resistance. Fems Microbiology Ecology, 14 (2), 121-132. doi: 10.1016/0168-6496(94)90090-6
1994
Journal Article
The Organization of the Paracrystalline Multilayered Spacer-Plugs of Methanospirillum-Hungatei
Firtel, M, Southam, G, Harauz, G and Beveridge, TJ (1994). The Organization of the Paracrystalline Multilayered Spacer-Plugs of Methanospirillum-Hungatei. Journal of Structural Biology, 112 (2), 160-171. doi: 10.1006/jsbi.1994.1017
1993
Journal Article
Characterization of the Cell-Wall of the Sheathed Methanogen Methanospirillum-Hungatei Gp1 as An S-Layer
Firtel, M., Southam, G., Harauz, G. and Beveridge, T. J. (1993). Characterization of the Cell-Wall of the Sheathed Methanogen Methanospirillum-Hungatei Gp1 as An S-Layer. Journal of Bacteriology, 175 (23), 7550-7560. doi: 10.1128/jb.175.23.7550-7560.1993
1993
Journal Article
Examination of Lipopolysaccharide (O-Antigen) Populations of Thiobacillus-Ferrooxidans From 2 Mine Tailings
Southam, G and Beveridge, TJ (1993). Examination of Lipopolysaccharide (O-Antigen) Populations of Thiobacillus-Ferrooxidans From 2 Mine Tailings. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 59 (5), 1283-1288. doi: 10.1128/aem.59.5.1283-1288.1993
1993
Journal Article
Transmission electron microscopy, scanning tunneling microscopy, and atomic force microscopy of the cell envelope layers of the archaeobacterium Methanospirillum hungatei GP1
Southam, G., Firtel, M., Blackford, B. L., Jericho, M. H., Xu, W., Mulhern, P. J. and Beveridge, T. J. (1993). Transmission electron microscopy, scanning tunneling microscopy, and atomic force microscopy of the cell envelope layers of the archaeobacterium Methanospirillum hungatei GP1. Journal of Bacteriology, 175 (7), 1946-1955. doi: 10.1128/jb.175.7.1946-1955.1993
1993
Conference Publication
Paracrystalline Layers of Methanospirillum-Hungatei Gp1
Southam, G, Beveridge, TJ and Sprott, GD (1993). Paracrystalline Layers of Methanospirillum-Hungatei Gp1. Nato Advanced Research Workshop On Advances in Bacterial Paracrystalline Surface Layers, London Canada, Sep 27-30, 1992. PLENUM PRESS DIV PLENUM PUBLISHING CORP.
1993
Conference Publication
Investigation of Lattice Surface-Layers by Scanning Probe Microscopy
Firtel, M, Southam, G, Beveridge, TJ, Xu, W, Jericho, MH, Blackford, BL and Mulhern, PJ (1993). Investigation of Lattice Surface-Layers by Scanning Probe Microscopy. Nato Advanced Research Workshop On Advances in Bacterial Paracrystalline Surface Layers, London Canada, Sep 27-30, 1992. PLENUM PRESS DIV PLENUM PUBLISHING CORP.
1992
Journal Article
Detection of growth sites in and protomer pools for the sheath of Methanospirillum hungatei GP1 by use of constituent organosulfur and immunogold labeling
Southam, G. and Beveridge, T. J. (1992). Detection of growth sites in and protomer pools for the sheath of Methanospirillum hungatei GP1 by use of constituent organosulfur and immunogold labeling. Journal of Bacteriology, 174 (20), 6460-6470. doi: 10.1128/jb.174.20.6460-6470.1992
1992
Journal Article
Afm and Stm Studies of the Interaction of Antibodies with the S-Layer Sheath of the Archaeobacterium Methanospirillum-Hungatei
Mulhern, PJ, Blackford, BL, Jericho, MH, Southam, G and Beveridge, TJ (1992). Afm and Stm Studies of the Interaction of Antibodies with the S-Layer Sheath of the Archaeobacterium Methanospirillum-Hungatei. Ultramicroscopy, 42, 1214-1221. doi: 10.1016/0304-3991(92)90426-K
1992
Journal Article
Enumeration of Thiobacilli Within Ph-Neutral and Acidic Mine Tailings and Their Role in the Development of Secondary Mineral Soil
Southam, G and Beveridge, TJ (1992). Enumeration of Thiobacilli Within Ph-Neutral and Acidic Mine Tailings and Their Role in the Development of Secondary Mineral Soil. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 58 (6), 1904-1912. doi: 10.1128/aem.58.6.1904-1912.1992
1992
Journal Article
Characterization of novel, phenol-soluble polypeptides which confer rigidity to the sheath of Methanospirillum hungatei GP1
Southam, G. and Beveridge, T. J. (1992). Characterization of novel, phenol-soluble polypeptides which confer rigidity to the sheath of Methanospirillum hungatei GP1. Journal of Bacteriology, 174 (3), 935-946. doi: 10.1128/jb.174.3.935-946.1992
1991
Journal Article
Dissolution and immunochemical analysis of the sheath of the archaeobacterium Methanospirillum hungatei GP1
Southam, G. and Beveridge, T. J. (1991). Dissolution and immunochemical analysis of the sheath of the archaeobacterium Methanospirillum hungatei GP1. Journal of Bacteriology, 173 (19), 6213-6222. doi: 10.1128/jb.173.19.6213-6222.1991
1991
Journal Article
Scanning Tunneling Microscope Imaging of Hoops From the Cell Sheath of the Bacteria Methanospirillum-Hungatei and Atomic Force Microscope Imaging of Complete Sheathes
Blackford, BL, Jericho, MH, Mulhern, PJ, Frame, C, Southam, G and Beveridge, TJ (1991). Scanning Tunneling Microscope Imaging of Hoops From the Cell Sheath of the Bacteria Methanospirillum-Hungatei and Atomic Force Microscope Imaging of Complete Sheathes. Journal of Vacuum Science & Technology B, 9 (2), 1242-1247. doi: 10.1116/1.585213
1990
Journal Article
High-resolution topography of the S-layer sheath of the archaebacterium Methanospirillum hungatei provided by scanning tunneling microscopy
Beveridge, T. J., Southam, G., Jericho, M. H. and Blackford, B. L. (1990). High-resolution topography of the S-layer sheath of the archaebacterium Methanospirillum hungatei provided by scanning tunneling microscopy. Journal of Bacteriology, 172 (11), 6589-6595. doi: 10.1128/jb.172.11.6589-6595.1990
1990
Journal Article
Isolation, characterization, and cellular insertion of the flagella from two strains of the archaebacterium Methanospirillum hungatei
Southam, G., Kalmokoff, M. L., Jarrell, K. F., Koval, S. F. and Beveridge, T. J. (1990). Isolation, characterization, and cellular insertion of the flagella from two strains of the archaebacterium Methanospirillum hungatei. Journal of Bacteriology, 172 (6), 3221-3228. doi: 10.1128/jb.172.6.3221-3228.1990
1989
Journal Article
The Imaging of a Complete Biological Structure with the Scanning Tunneling Microscope
Blackford, BL, Watanabe, MO, Dahn, DC, Jericho, MH, Southam, G and Beveridge, TJ (1989). The Imaging of a Complete Biological Structure with the Scanning Tunneling Microscope. Ultramicroscopy, 27 (4), 427-432. doi: 10.1016/0304-3991(89)90011-9
1988
Journal Article
An Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent-Assay for Plant Cadmium-Binding Peptide
Rauser, WE, Quesnel, AA, Lam, JS and Southam, GG (1988). An Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent-Assay for Plant Cadmium-Binding Peptide. Plant Science, 57 (1), 37-43. doi: 10.1016/0168-9452(88)90139-2
1987
Journal Article
Survival and Transport of Bacteria in Egg Washwater
Pearson, J, Southam, GG and Holley, RA (1987). Survival and Transport of Bacteria in Egg Washwater. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 53 (9), 2060-2065. doi: 10.1128/aem.53.9.2060-2065.1987
1987
Journal Article
Production and Characterization of Monoclonal-Antibodies against Serotype Strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Lam, Joseph S., Macdonald, Leslie A., Lam, Michele Y. C., Duchesne, Lorraine G. M. and Southam, Gordon G. (1987). Production and Characterization of Monoclonal-Antibodies against Serotype Strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Infection and Immunity, 55 (5), 1051-1057. doi: 10.1128/IAI.55.5.1051-1057.1987
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Gordon Southam is:
- Available for supervision
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Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Investigation of the interface between electrochemically-active microorganisms and metals
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Bernardino Virdis
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Doctor Philosophy
Investigation of the interface between electrochemically-active microorganisms and metals
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Bernardino Virdis
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Doctor Philosophy
Investigation of the interface between electrochemically-active microorganisms and metals
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Bernardino Virdis
-
Doctor Philosophy
Investigation of the interface between electrochemically-active microorganisms and metals
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Bernardino Virdis
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Doctor Philosophy
Investigation of the interface between electrochemically-active microorganisms and metals
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Bernardino Virdis
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Doctor Philosophy
Acid Mine Drainage Passive Treatment Method Using Hyperaccumulator Plants for Post Mining Rehabilitation
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Denys Villa Gomez, Professor Peter Erskine
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Doctor Philosophy
Alternative uses of mine influenced water
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Mandana Shaygan, Professor Mansour Edraki
Completed supervision
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2024
Doctor Philosophy
Understanding the microbiology behind transformation of coal mine spoils to soils, in the Bowen Basin
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Paul Evans
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2024
Doctor Philosophy
Biochemical processes occuring in kimberlite: True lithotrophy
Principal Advisor
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2024
Doctor Philosophy
Harnessing microbial processes to accelerate the transformation of coal spoils to functional soils
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Peter Erskine, Dr Paul Evans
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Biologically enhanced mineral carbonation of kimberlite as a strategy to create a carbon neutral mine
Principal Advisor
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
Development of ferruginous duricrusts (canga) in tropical iron ore systems
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Paulo Vasconcelos
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
The role of primary producers in surface evolution of iron-rich duricrust (canga)
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Peter Kopittke
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
Selective colonisation of metal sulphides and the effect of bioleaching
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Paulo Vasconcelos
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2017
Doctor Philosophy
Microbial carbonation in natural and engineered environments
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Gregory Webb
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2016
Doctor Philosophy
Coal mine microbial communities and biogenic methane cycling
Principal Advisor
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
Microbial sulfur oxidation driven mineral weathering in alkaline iron ore tailings
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Fang You, Professor Longbin Huang
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
Improving biogeochemical properties and pioneer plant growth in alkaline iron ore tailings undergoing soil formation
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Fang You, Professor Longbin Huang
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
Geochemical investigation of abandoned tungsten mining wastes for metal recovery and rehabilitation
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Mansour Edraki
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
Strategies for nickel and cobalt recovery from mine-impacted water using sulfate-reducing bacteria
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor James Vaughan, Dr Denys Villa Gomez
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
Characteristics of hardpans capping sulfidic Cu-Pb-Zn tailings and potential roles of mineral bio-weathering
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Longbin Huang
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2018
Doctor Philosophy
Characterization of South Australian microbialites with emphasis on the identification of geochemical signatures
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Honorary Professor Robert Burne, Professor Gregory Webb
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2018
Doctor Philosophy
Phosphate-induced hydrogeochemical stabilisation of sulphidic lead-zinc tailings for rapid phytostabilisation
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Longbin Huang
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2017
Doctor Philosophy
Paleoenvironmental Evolution of Continental Landscapes Through Combined High-Resolution Geochronology and d18O Ion Microprobe Analysis of Goethite
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Paulo Vasconcelos
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