# What kind of bacteria eat iron and steel? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 22, 2023, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-bacteria-eat-iron-and-steel/985935 "2023-06-22T12:18:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2023, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-bacteria-eat-iron-and-steel/985935/1 "2023-06-22T12:18:11Z")
In many of the stories about _Titanic_, there are regular mentions of bacteria that are eating the iron and steel that make up the ship, sometimes saying the wreck loses a couple of hundred pounds a day. What kind of bacteria are they talking about? Seems odd that there would be a type of bacteria at the bottom of the ocean that has evolved to eat iron and steel? ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2023, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-bacteria-eat-iron-and-steel/985935/2 "2023-06-22T12:34:54Z")
There is plenty of iron-oxidizing bacteria on the surface. A wreck like _Titanic_ would be like an all-you-can-eat buffet. > **[Iron-oxidizing bacteria: an unusual natural phenomenon](https://nwdistrict.ifas.ufl.edu/nat/2021/11/19/iron-oxidizing-bacteria-an-unusual-natural-phenomenon/)** > > “Someone dumped oil in the creek behind my house!” I had dozens of people call with that exclamation when I was a field inspector for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s (FDEP) wet… ---
**Author:** ![DorkVader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@DorkVader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DorkVader)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2023, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-bacteria-eat-iron-and-steel/985935/3 "2023-06-22T12:35:05Z")
Not a detailed answer(sorry, about to start work, but I know a teeny smidge about this) mostly it’s microbes in an oxygen poor environment. Iron, and manganese too, are used as “electron sinks” in chemical reactions (and sometimes supplies of electrons) bacteria use to generate energy. I’m sure someone will be along shortly to give a better, more detailed answer ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2023, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-bacteria-eat-iron-and-steel/985935/4 "2023-06-22T13:06:40Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Seems odd that there would be a type of bacteria at the bottom of the ocean that has evolved to eat iron and steel? Is this because you think there isntusually any iron for them to eat there? ---
**Author:** ![gnarator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gnarator/32/8266_2.png) [@gnarator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnarator)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2023, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-bacteria-eat-iron-and-steel/985935/5 "2023-06-22T13:12:26Z")
Microbially Induced Corrosion (MIC) is sometimes a problem in the pipeline industry, usually in the gas gathering or gas storage areas. Some companies will inject biocides into the gas stream to control MIC. [Controlling microbiologically influenced corrosion in pipelines (ampp.org)](https://blogs.ampp.org/controlling-mic-in-pipelines) ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2023, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-bacteria-eat-iron-and-steel/985935/6 "2023-06-22T13:47:25Z")
Ancient metallurgy depended to a degree on iron-eating bacteria. > **[Bog iron](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bog_iron)** > > Bog iron is a form of impure iron deposit that develops in bogs or swamps by the chemical or biochemical oxidation of iron carried in solution. In general, bog ores consist primarily of iron oxyhydroxides, commonly goethite (FeO(OH)). > Iron-bearing groundwater typically emerges as a spring and the iron in it forms ferric hydroxide upon encountering the oxidizing environment of the surface. Bog ore often combines goethite, magnetite, and vugs or stained quartz. Oxidation may occur through enzyme... > Iron-bearing groundwater typically emerges as a spring and the iron in it forms ferric hydroxide upon encountering the oxidizing environment of the surface. Bog ore often combines goethite, magnetite, and vugs or stained quartz. **Oxidation may occur through enzyme catalysis by iron bacteria**. Bog iron was some of the earliest iron ore worked by early blacksmiths, since it’s easy to find (look for a bog with reddish-stained water and poorly growing bog grass), easy ro extract (cut and peel soft peat), and easy to refine (doesn’t have to be complete molten to purify to iron). Thank you, iron-eating bacteria! ---
**Author:** ![Isilder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@Isilder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isilder)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2023, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-bacteria-eat-iron-and-steel/985935/7 "2023-06-22T14:38:34Z")
It wasn’t just bog iron that came from the bacteria… Australia’s Iron ore, a giant deposit in the Pilbara region, was made by bacteria… ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2023, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-bacteria-eat-iron-and-steel/985935/8 "2023-06-22T15:14:56Z")
> [@Isilder](#): > > Australia’s Iron ore, a giant deposit in the Pilbara region, was made by bacteria… Only indirectly. Most Pilbara iron ore is banded ironstone, and that’s a precipitate caused by [oxygenation of the oceans by cyanobacteria doing normal photosynthesis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Oxidation_Event), not a direct catalyzed precipitation by chemotrophes, like in bog iron. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2023, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-bacteria-eat-iron-and-steel/985935/9 "2023-06-23T16:25:59Z")
> [@gnoitall](#): > > Bog iron was some of the earliest iron ore worked by early blacksmiths Most of the early ironworks in the New World were bog iron. In Europe, pretty much all the bog iron had already been exploited, but America still had plenty of it. Furthermore, if the bog was near seashell deposits, they could use crushed shells as flux in the smelter. New Jersey happened to have them in close proximity, so NJ was an early iron working region. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2023, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-bacteria-eat-iron-and-steel/985935/10 "2023-06-23T16:54:24Z")
[Ferritin is a protein produced by almost all living things.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferritin) > [@](#): > > It is the primary _intracellular iron-storage protein_ in both [prokaryotes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prokaryote) and [eukaryotes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eukaryote), keeping iron in a soluble and non-toxic form. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2023, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-bacteria-eat-iron-and-steel/985935/11 "2023-06-23T18:15:48Z")
This has been a fascinating discussion. I learnt new things. Thanks, all. ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2023, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-bacteria-eat-iron-and-steel/985935/12 "2023-06-23T19:28:33Z")
Great discussion, I loved it! ---
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2023, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-bacteria-eat-iron-and-steel/985935/13 "2023-06-23T21:13:51Z")
I feel like we had a thread on how much “blood of my enemies” it would take to forge a sword. ---
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2023, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-bacteria-eat-iron-and-steel/985935/14 "2023-06-23T21:21:14Z")
> [@DorkVader](#): > > Iron, and manganese too, are used as “electron sinks” in chemical reactions (and sometimes supplies of electrons) bacteria use to generate energy. In the case of the bacteria responsible for bog deposits, they’re using Fe(II) as an electron source. The resulting Fe(III) precipitates. In the case of ship hulls, we’re starting with metallic iron, Fe(0). What I don’t know, and which may have already been addressed by the links I’m still working through, is at what stage(s) the bacteria are involved and how. But this will again result in iron being used as an electron source. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2023, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-bacteria-eat-iron-and-steel/985935/15 "2023-06-23T21:21:57Z")
> [@Ruken](#): > > I feel like we had a thread on how much “blood of my enemies” it would take to forge a sword. You mean like this one? > [@Smelting blood into iron?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smelting-blood-into-iron/743693): > > Is it possible to smelt blood into usable iron? How many gallons of blood would it take to make a broadsword? ---
**Author:** ![MikeF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MikeF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeF)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2023, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-bacteria-eat-iron-and-steel/985935/16 "2023-06-23T21:33:24Z")
Along with the salt air I mentioned (and on which I was educated)) in another thread, my part of New Jersey was once a hotbed for bog iron. I’ve often seen the sheen mentioned in this thread and always thought it was some kid of ground water pollution. I’m getting less ignorant by the day! ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2023, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-bacteria-eat-iron-and-steel/985935/17 "2023-06-23T21:40:33Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > > [@Ruken](#): > > > > I feel like we had a thread on how much “blood of my enemies” it would take to forge a sword. > > You mean like this one? > > [Smelting blood into iron?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smelting-blood-into-iron/743693) Seems to me there’s a real chicken-and-egg, or is it blood-and-sword problem here. I need the sword to extract blood from my enemies, and I need enemy blood to forge my sword. 😁 More seriously, great cite. Thank you.