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Related Experiment Videos

Microbial diversity in uranium mine waste heaps.

A Schippers, R Hallmann, S Wentzien

    Applied and Environmental Microbiology
    |August 1, 1995
    PubMed
    Summary

    Microbial leaching bacteria, including Thiobacillus ferrooxidans, were detected in uranium mine waste heaps. Their abundance and activity decreased significantly below 2 meters due to reduced oxygen levels.

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    Area of Science:

    • Environmental microbiology
    • Geomicrobiology
    • Mining engineering

    Background:

    • Uranium mine waste heaps from Wismut AG in Ronneburg, Germany, represent a legacy of past mining activities.
    • These heaps can harbor diverse microbial communities influencing geochemical processes.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the occurrence and distribution of lithotrophic and chemoorganotropic bacteria in uranium mine waste heaps.
    • To assess the microbial activity and its correlation with environmental factors like oxygen availability.

    Main Methods:

    • Collection of 162 ore samples from waste heaps up to 5m depth.
    • Quantitative cell counts using the most-probable-number technique for various bacteria (iron-, sulfur-, ammonia-, nitrite-oxidizing, sulfate-, nitrate-, ferric iron-, and manganese-reducing).
    • Microcalorimetry to measure metabolic activity of sulfur- and iron-oxidizing bacteria.

    Main Results:

    • All targeted microbial groups were detected in the waste heaps.
    • Aerobic and anaerobic microorganisms thrived in the upper 1.5 to 2 meters.
    • Thiobacillus ferrooxidans, a dominant leaching bacterium, constituted up to 99% of cells in the upper layers and correlated with microbial activity.

    Conclusions:

    • Uranium mine waste heaps support diverse microbial communities, particularly in oxygen-rich upper layers.
    • Reduced oxygen concentrations below 1.5-2 meters limit microbial abundance and activity.
    • Thiobacillus ferrooxidans plays a significant role in leaching processes within these environments.

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