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Are there bacteria or other types of lifeforms that feed on rocks and other ground minerals? And if there aren't, is it technically possible? It can eat other things but the majority of its diet should be rocks or ground minerals.

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  • $\begingroup$ On earth, you mean? Or theoretically possible anywhere? $\endgroup$ Oct 30, 2014 at 1:29
  • $\begingroup$ @MonicaCellio You can answer with both $\endgroup$ Oct 30, 2014 at 1:31
  • $\begingroup$ Please edit the question to reflect this. Thank you. (But beware of "is this possible anywhere?" questions; that seems pretty broad.) $\endgroup$ Oct 30, 2014 at 1:31
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    $\begingroup$ lichen. I think this is another question that show a lack of effort. $\endgroup$
    – Vincent
    Oct 30, 2014 at 2:49
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    $\begingroup$ Reminds me of these guys. $\endgroup$
    – Wrzlprmft
    Oct 30, 2014 at 7:41

2 Answers 2

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Look up lithotrophs:

Lithotrophs are a diverse group of organisms using inorganic substrate (usually of mineral origin) to obtain reducing equivalents for use in biosynthesis (e.g., carbon dioxide fixation) or energy conservation (i.e., ATP production) via aerobic or anaerobic respiration." - Wikipedia

My understanding of inorganic substrate of mineral origin is that it uses rock and/or minerals as a source of food, however small those meals might be

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    $\begingroup$ Can you cite the quote? $\endgroup$
    – HDE 226868
    Oct 30, 2014 at 1:22
  • $\begingroup$ how? I'm new here $\endgroup$
    – Mystra007
    Oct 30, 2014 at 1:23
  • $\begingroup$ Just list where you got it. $\endgroup$
    – HDE 226868
    Oct 30, 2014 at 1:23
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    $\begingroup$ he means post a link. $\endgroup$
    – DonyorM
    Oct 30, 2014 at 4:07
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    $\begingroup$ the last sentence is incomplete $\endgroup$
    – Vincent
    Nov 1, 2014 at 20:56
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I should preface by stating I am a geobiochemist with a focus on ferrolithotophic bacteria, or bacteria that gain their energy from rocks and minerals that contain iron with ‘extra’ electrons. While it is colloquially stated that these organisms ‘eat’ rocks and minerals, they are only able to derive energy from this process, and must obtain carbon for biomass from additional sources, often carbon dioxide. In this way it is analogous to plants growing using sunlight, but in the stead of light, these organisms alter rocks.

Specifics and nerdiness aside, the answer is yes; it is possible. It is suspected the majority of organisms on Earth ‘eat’ rocks and minerals for a living, and this likely constitutes the majority of their energy intake. Bacteria (and Archaea) are commonly able to ‘eat’ minerals containing sulfur, iron, nitrogen, hydrogen of specific types. Less common examples have been found to ‘eat’ uranium, arsenic, and mercury. As an interesting aside, many of these minerals can be breathed as well. No known macroscopic organisms are known to do this (i.e. animals, lichen.. etc..)

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  • $\begingroup$ "It is suspected the majority of organisms on Earth 'eat' rocks" - are you referring to number of species / number of individuals / biomass? $\endgroup$
    – mafu
    Sep 26, 2015 at 23:44
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    $\begingroup$ There are living organisms living deep inside the Earth's crust, which are presumably eating rocks. We don't know exactly how many there are or how deep they go, but it is quite possible that there are a lot of them. $\endgroup$ Mar 15, 2016 at 16:07

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