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Cited by 123Metal Extraction and BioleachingMine drainage and remediation techniquesMicrobial metabolism and enzyme function

A critical stage in the formation of acid mine drainage: Colonization of pyrite by Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans under pH‐neutral conditions

Mielke, Randall E., Pace, Danielle L., Porter, Tim, Southam, Gordon·2003·Geobiology
DOI 10.1046/j.1472-4669.2003.00005.x
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Abstract

ABSTRACT A dominant Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans ssp. was isolated from the supergene copper deposit in Morenci, Arizona, USA. Washed bacterial suspensions (108 MPN per treatment), in pH‐neutral buffer, were inoculated onto pyrite cubes for 24 h. Heterogeneous bacterial absorption onto the pyrite removed approximately 90% of the viable bacteria from the inoculum. At T = 0, the bacteria were observed primarily in regions enriched in phosphorus. Over 30 days, the bacterial population on the pyrite cubes increased from 1.3 × 107 to 2.9 × 108 bacteria cm−2. During this growth stage, low levels of thiobacilli (228 ± 167 MPN mL−1) were also recovered from the fluid phase; however, this population decreased to zero within 30 days. Growth on pyrite occurred as micrometre‐scale planar microcolonies, a biofilm, coating the mineral surfaces. These microcolonies possessed viable thiobacilli, even after 4 months at ‘circumneutral pH’. Imaging the pyrite cubes using SEM‐EDS and scanning force microscopy demonstrated that the thiobacilli grew as iron oxy‐hydroxide‐cemented cells, leading to the formation of mineralized microcolonies. Removing the iron oxy‐hydroxides with oxalic acid did not dislodge the bacteria, demonstrating that the secondary minerals were not responsible for ‘gluing’ the bacteria to the pyrite surface. Removing organic material, i.e. the cells, by an oxygen plasma treatment revealed the presence of corrosion pits the size and shape of bacteria. Because of the inherent geochemical constraints on pyrite oxidation at neutral pH, the colonization of pyrite under circumneutral pH conditions must be facilitated by the development of an acidic nanoenvironment between the bacteria and the pyrite mineral surface.

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  • Sulfidic materials provide an ideal habitat for acid-generating microbes that greatly accelerate the generation of sulfuric acid for mineral dissolution and metal leaching.

    “These sulfidic materials provide an ideal habitat for acid-generating microbes (e.g., Acidithiobacillus spp.) that greatly accelerate the generation of sulfuric acid for mineral dissolution and metal leaching [62][63][64][65].”

    From Strategizing carbon-neutral mines: A case for pilot projects (2014) · cites this paper as [63]

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Authors
Mielke, R. E., Pace, D. L., Porter, T., & Southam, G.
Affiliations
  • Northern Arizona University (US)
  • Western University (CA)
Corresponding author
Southam, Gordon
ORCID
Venue
Geobiology
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2003-07
Volume
1
Issue
1
Pages
81-90
ISSN
  • 1472-4669 (ISSN-L)
  • 1472-4677
DOI
10.1046/j.1472-4669.2003.00005.x
OpenAlex
W2102051539
Cited by
123
References
47
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 15 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 8 · 2014: 9 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 5
FWCI
2.62
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor)
Locations
Geobiology (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Metal Extraction and Bioleaching
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Chemistry › Mine drainage and remediation techniques
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Microbial metabolism and enzyme function
Keywords
acid mine drainage, Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, circumneutral pH, bacterial biofilms, bacterial microcolonies, pyrite oxidation

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