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October 14, 2020: Rusticles

Microbial communities, called rusticles, have been observed to be consuming RMS Titanic’s iron and clinging to the wreck like rusty icicles. These rusticles were imaged in 2003 hanging from the stern section of the Titanic, showing secondary growths during maturation.

Image courtesy of Lori Johnston, RMS Titanic Expedition 2003, NOAA-OE. Download larger version (jpg, 2.2 MB).

Microbial communities, called rusticles, have been observed to be consuming RMS Titanic’s iron and clinging to the wreck like rusty icicles. These rusticles were imaged in 2003 hanging from the stern section of the Titanic, showing secondary growths during maturation.

These features have been observed on the shipwreck throughout the years. Ongoing qualitative analyses contribute to the scientific research regarding the ship’s degradation, as well as the future degradation rate of modern deep-sea structures.

From: Rusticles Thrive on the Titanic.