biomining
Bacteria harvest metals
Biomining is the use of microorganisms to extract metals from ores or waste materials.
Bacteria and other microbes break down rock and release valuable metals like copper, gold, and uranium—a process slower than conventional mining but less environmentally destructive.
The technique is especially useful for low-grade ores that traditional methods can't process economically: Biomining has made it profitable to recover copper from deposits once considered worthless.
Nucleus-free single-celled organisms
- microorganismsMicroscopic living entities
- leachingDissolving out by liquid
- inoculationInjection conferring disease resistance
- bioreactorVessel for growing organisms
thermophiles · oxidation · sulfide · biofilm · archaea · metabolic · extremophiles
Reddish-brown metallic element
- goldElement seventy-nine
- uraniumElement ninety-two
- oreMetal-bearing rock
- pyriteBrass-yellow iron sulfide
nickel · cobalt · zinc · concentrate · tailings · precious metals · rare earth elements
Able to endure long-term
- remediationAct of correcting faults
- waste treatmentPurifying contaminated water
- recyclingReprocessing used materials
- e-wasteDiscarded technological devices
circular economy · eco-friendly · pollution control · detoxification · carbon footprint · clean technology · reclamation · environmentally friendly
Infusing with oxygen
- temperature controlRegulating heat levels
- scale-upProportional increase in magnitude
- pilot plantSmall test manufacturing operation
- cost-effectiveGiving good return cheaply
bacteria
Nucleus-free single-celled organisms
- microorganismsMicroscopic living entities
- leachingDissolving out by liquid
- inoculationInjection conferring disease resistance
bioreactor · thermophiles · oxidation · sulfide · biofilm · archaea · metabolic · extremophiles
copper
Reddish-brown metallic element
pyrite · nickel · cobalt · zinc · concentrate · tailings · precious metals · rare earth elements
sustainable
Able to endure long-term
- remediationAct of correcting faults
- waste treatmentPurifying contaminated water
- recyclingReprocessing used materials
e-waste · circular economy · eco-friendly · pollution control · detoxification · carbon footprint · clean technology · reclamation · environmentally friendly
aeration
Infusing with oxygen
- temperature controlRegulating heat levels
- scale-upProportional increase in magnitude
- pilot plantSmall test manufacturing operation
cost-effective · processing plant · throughput · agitation · continuous flow
biominingsmelting
Extracting metal from ore
strip mining · open-pit mining · drilling · dredging · quarrying
biominingstrip mining
Removing overburden for minerals
mountaintop removal · open-pit mining · hydraulic fracturing · coal mining
mine, mineral, biology, mining, miner, biography, bio, minerals, mined