Frozen Clay Minerals as a Potential Source of Bioavailable Iron and Magnetite

Abstract

Iron (Fe) is an essential micronutrient that affects biological production. Iron-containing clay minerals are an important source of bioavailable iron. However, the dissolution of iron-containing clay minerals at temperatures below the freezing point has not been investigated. Here, we demonstrate the enhanced reductive dissolution of iron from a clay mineral in ice in the presence of iodide (I–) as the electron donor. The accelerated production of dissolved iron in the frozen state was irreversible, and the freeze concentration effect was considered the main driving force. Furthermore, the formation of magnetite (Fe3O4) after the freezing process was observed using transmission electron microscopy analysis. Our results suggest a new mechanism of accelerated abiotic reduction of Fe(III) in clay minerals, which may release bioavailable iron, Fe(II), and reactive iodine species into the natural environment. We also propose a novel process for magnetite formation in ice. The freezing process can serve as a source of bioavailable iron or act as a sink, leading to the formation of magnetite.