Eat to save

Enviromine

Publishing Date: 05 May 2009 12:09pm GMT
Author: Mining, People and the Environment

Sustainability Ecology & Biodiversity

Bio-mining is not new, but scientists are working to improve the process and find new bacteria that are tolerant to more extreme conditions.

One such study is being conducted at Western Australia’s Curtain University, where PhD student Calra Zammit is trying to unearth salt-tolerant micro-organisms that can be used in the states mines.

If successful, development of bio-mining could save the industry thousands of dollars a year. “It’s low maintenance and metals can be economically extracted from waste ores,” Ms Zammit told MiningNews.net.

The technique does not produce the emissions associated with traditional smelting, in fact the bacteria involved use the carbon dioxide in the air, and the low-start up and maintenance costs mean it could be readily used in developing countries.

The team at Curtain University have already identified some micro-organisms that are more salt tolerant, but further work is needed to better understand these strains.

The work is being recognised within the industry, and Ms Zammit recently won the Minerals and Energy Institute of Western Australia Award for 2009, receiving the award from the Minister of Mines and Petroleum.