Dear all,

We're working down in the depths of S. Africa's deepest gold mines looking
for bacteria.  While we were down there a drilling crew penetrated a
subsurface water compartment (natural) which blew the drill rods out of the
hole and started flooding that level (at 2.5 kilometers below the surface).
We managed to get in to collect water samples after the flow rate had
diminished.  The water fairly stinks of sulfide and we would like to
preserve or prepare a sample for sulfur isotope analyses of the sulfide.
The water was pretty alkaline (pH 9) and warm (50°C). We have an anaerobic
glove bag on site and some limited filtration capability.  Could anyone
suggest the best way of preserving the sample for sulfur isotope analyses
of the sulfide and sulfate species and also oxygen isotope analyses of the
sulfate?  Your advice would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks, TCO

T.C. Onstott
Dept. of Geosciences
Princeton University, Princeton NJ 08544
Ph: 609-258-1622
FX: 609-258-1274
e-mail: [log in to unmask]
Check out our website at http:///geo.princeton.edu/geomicrobio