Geoactive fungi play a significant role in bioweathering of rock and mineral substrates. Monazite is a phosphate mineral containing the rare earth elements (REE) cerium, lanthanum and neodymium. Little is known about geomicrobial transformations of REE-bearing minerals which are also relevant to REE biorecovery from terrestrial and extra-terrestrial reserves. The geoactive soil fungus Aspergillus niger colonized monazite in solid and liquid growth media without any apparent growth inhibition. In a glucose-minerals salts medium, monazite enhanced growth and mycelium extensively covered rock particle surfaces, probably due to the provision of phosphate and essential trace metals. Teeth-like and pagoda-like etching patterns indicated monazite dissolution, with extensive precipitation of secondary oxalate minerals. Biomechanical forces ensued causing aggressive bioweathering effects by tunnelling, penetration and splitting of the ore particles. High amounts of oxalic acid (~46 mM) and moderate amounts of citric acid (~5 mM) were produced in liquid media containing 2% (wt./vol.) monazite, and REE and phosphate were released. Correlation analysis suggested that citric acid was more effective than oxalic acid in REE mobilization, although the higher concentration of oxalic acid also implied complexant activity, as well as the prime role in REE-oxalate precipitation.

中文翻译：

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黑曲霉对独居石的定植和生物风化：稀土元素的溶解和沉淀

地质活性真菌在岩石和矿物基质的生物风化中起着重要作用。独居石是一种磷酸盐矿物，含有稀土元素 (REE) 铈、镧和钕。对含稀土矿物的地球微生物转化知之甚少，这些矿物也与从陆地和地球外储量中回收稀土元素有关。地质活性土壤真菌黑曲霉在固体和液体生长培养基中定居的独居石没有任何明显的生长抑制作用。在葡萄糖矿物质盐培养基中，独居石促进了生长，菌丝体广泛覆盖了岩石颗粒表面，这可能是由于提供了磷酸盐和必需的微量金属。牙齿状和宝塔状蚀刻图案表明独居石溶解，次生草酸盐矿物广泛沉淀。随之而来的生物力学力通过矿石颗粒的隧道、穿透和分裂而导致侵蚀性的生物风化效应。在含有 2% (wt./vol.) 独居石的液体培养基中产生大量草酸 (~46 mM) 和中等量柠檬酸 (~5 mM)，并释放出 REE 和磷酸盐。相关性分析表明，柠檬酸在 REE 动员方面比草酸更有效，