Bio-Mining

Bio-Mining

Bio-mining
Microorganisms degrade certain toxic constituents used in mineral processing and concentrate and immobilise soluble heavy metals released as a result of mining and mineral processing activities.

Certain bacteria are responsible for one of the most persistent and destructive environmental problems - acid rock drainage (ARD).

The microbial ecology of mining environments is far from being fully elucidated.

Most microbial research and development efforts related to metal mining environments have been directed towards the bacteria involved in acid rock formation and the commercial applications of bioleaching and mineral bio-oxidation.

The reason for this is two fold: ARD is the most widespread, persistent, destructive and least controllable environmental problem associated with base and precious metal mining. But the same bacteria that cause ARD can be effectively applied in controlled situations to process base and precious metal deposits that are not technically and economically amenable to treatment by conventional mineral processing methods.

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