Competitive exclusion of sulfate reduction by Fe(III)-reducing bacteria: a mechanism for producing discrete zones of high-iron ground water

Tests of the hypothesis that the development and localization of high-iron ground water in an Atlantic Coastal Plain is controlled by the activity and interaction of Fe(III)- and sulfate reducing bacteria are discussed. Sediments recovered from three continuous core drilling operations were subjected to assay analysis. It was found that microbial competition favors the zone of Fe(III) reduction over sulfate reducing bacteria in the aquifer.