In 1993 the Bedford Institute of Oceanography gave Dr. Henrietta Mann a sample of rusticles taken from the Titanic wreck. Working with colleague Dr. Bhavleen Kaur, they discovered a new species of bacteria, Halomonas titanicae. In 2010 it was designated as one of the top ten important species to be discovered. Having participated in many geological conferences, Dr. Mann's ongoing research interests include metal corrosion, biomineralization, gas and oil pipelines, extreme environments, micro-organisms in Yellowstone National Park springs, ground water contamination. Dr. Mann is a member of the Geological Association of Canada, where she was President of the Environ-mental Section for four years. She is a past member of Micro Earth Environmental Consulting and a past member of NSERC, where she served on the application review panel, and a member of the Titanic 100 Society. Dr. Mann received her Ph.D. (1984) and M.Sc. from the University of Western Ontario, and her B.Sc and B.Ed. from St. Mary’s University, Halifax.
The Research of Henrietta Mann, Ph.D.
Positive
Halomonas titanicae helps to recycle structures
specifically made of iron. As a civilization, we
have been making different tools from iron since
the Iron Age. Our machinery, ships, oil
platforms, pipelines, aircraft parts, automobile
parts, etc. are made of iron, iron components, or
steel.
Imagine the magnitude of iron-based products
made on a yearly basis. The deterioration proc-
ess of these products which we use in our every-
day lives, and then discard, can be greatly expe-
dited by Halomonas titanicae. Thus, by using the
bacterium we may be able to greatly reduce the
amount of iron based metallic products taking up
space in our landfills and polluting the marine
environment.
Negative
Anything that is made of, or is partly made of, iron and is in a
marine environment is susceptible to corrosion, which is
partially helped by Halomonas titiancae.
Currently, oil rigs and their mooring chains, oil and gas
pipelines, ships, various machinery, etc. are subject to
corrosion. This has a negative effect on marine industry
because it is costly from an economic stand point to replace
components that become unstable due to rust.
Within 30-40 years the wreck of the Titanic, now part of the
world’s cultural heritage, will have been eaten away. The
Titanic will be a mere rust spot on the ocean floor.
Pros and Cons of Halomonos titanicae
Dr. Henrietta Mann, with ‘Living Titanic and its Microworld’ and oral herstorian Rosalee Peppard creator of ‘Living Titanic - The Musical Memoir of Nova Scotia Titanic Survivor Hilda Mary Slayter’, are available individually, or as a team for short presenta-tions and full programs.
For bookings, fees and further
information:
Henrietta Mann: 902-423-8532
Web: http://sextondigital.library.dal.ca/Titanic/index.html
On Facebook: Henrietta Mann – Researcher Titanic Oceans Extreme Environments
Rosalee Peppard: 902-850-1758, 1-877-1758
www.rosalee.ca
On Facebook: Rosalee Peppard Voice of Nova Scotia
Photos: Taken at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic,
Halifax, N.S., by Leigh Beauchamp Day
In 1912 Halifax was the major port closest to
the area in which the RMS Titanic sank. This,
and the fact that Halifax was also a relatively
small port, with fewer media outlets, and a
more easily controlled population, ensured
that the bodies of the dead could be dealt with
in a more private and dignified manner.
The cable ship CS Mackay-Bennett made two
trips to the site, first returning to the port of
Halifax on April 30, and again on May 6, 1912.
Church bells rang as she entered the harbor,
while local undertakers with their hearses
were drawn up at the dockside to receive the
dead. A total of 306 bodies were recovered, of
which 106 were buried at sea at the site of the
wreckage.
Relatives and friends of the deceased flocked
to the city to identify and claim the remains of
their loved ones. Some bodies were prepared
for transport to their homes, among them the
well known American millionaire John Jacob
Astor IV. Memorial church services and
funerals were held throughout the city.
Unfortunately, many could not afford to pay
to take their relatives home, so they were
buried in Halifax.
For the past hundred years Halagonians have
been maintaining the memorials of these
special graves. Since 1912 generations of fami-
lies and friends have come to Halifax to visit
the resting place of their loved ones.
Halifax & the RMS Titanic
http://sextondigital.library.dal.ca/Titanic/
Henrietta Mann - Researcher - Titanic, Oceans, Extreme Environments
Email: [email protected] Phone: 902-423-8532
The 4 Stages of
Rusticle
Formation