Cream‐colored streamers ofThermothrix thioparawere found at the sulfide‐oxygen interfaces of active tufa mounds where reducing geothermal groundwaters mixed with the oxidizing atmosphere. In the Jemez hot springs, the molar ratio of sulfide to oxygen was 0.3 to 0.8 at streamer locations within the interface. This corresponded to the optimum stoichiometric proportion (0.5) necessary for sulfur metabolism. The mechanism of cell positioning at the interface was studied by shifting the interface location with a plastic cover to extend reducing conditions from the mouth of the spring to the edge of the plastic. Macroscopically visible streamers of filamentous cells became established at the new interface within a period of eight days. They could then be reestablished at the original interface by removing the cover.