New Mexico Geological Society Annual Spring Meeting — Abstracts

Spring systems in southern Eddy County, New Mexico and Culberson County, Texas were studied based on the presence of hydrogen sulfide emissions. Sulfur oxidizing/reducing bacteria were thought to be present due to the atmosphere around the area (smell, observation of rock, etc). Water samples were tested for pH, reduction potential, total dissolved solids, total anions (Cl^-, F^-, Br^-, NO₃^2-, NO₂^-, PO₄³-, SO₄^2-, CO₃^2-, etc.), and total cations (NH₄⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Fe, Cu, etc.). Chemical analyses specified the types of culturing that were performed. Bacteria from the streams were plated on LB agar, a general growth media and sub-cultured on LB + NaCl agar, to detect halophiles, and S6 agar, a thiosulfate media. Bacteria colonies grew on sulfur based media. Bacterial representation was widespread with a broad spectrum of bacterial types including sulfur bacteria.