Geomicrobial processes in the subsurface: A tribute to Johannes Neher’s work

Abstract

For almost 50 years, Johannes Neher's research emphasized the significant role of microbes in geological processes. He has been searching for microbial evidence in the formation of silicates, such as cornelian, jasper, moss agate, chalcedony, and chrysocolla, as well as quartzites, itacolumnites, diamonds, dendrites on calcite, silicate horizons in limestone beds, and dolomite phenocrysts that formed in a biotite gneiss. Johannes Neher has never published his research and, thus, has caused opposition and disbelief amongst scientists. Two examples of his discoveries which are of fundamental significance in geology are briefly presented in this paper: (1) bacterially mediated precipitation of dolomite, and (2) microbial dissolution of quartz in an Alpine environment.