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Experimental Column Setup for Studying Anaerobic Biogeochemical Interactions Between Iron OxyHydroxides, Trace Elements, and Bacteria
Published on: December 19, 2017
Cross-kingdom microbial interactions drive arsenic detoxification and functional stabilization in century-old mine
Jian-Li Liu1, Jun Yao1, Safdar Bashir2
1School of Water Resources and Environment and Research Center of Environmental Science and Engineering, Sino-Hungarian Joint Laboratory of Environmental Science and Health, MOE Key Laboratory of Groundwater Circulation and Environmental Evolution, Beijing Key Laboratory of Water Resources & Environmental Engineering, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), 29 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100083, China.
Abstract:
Legacy gold mine tailings pose persistent environmental risks due to sustained metal(loid) mobilization under acidic andoligotrophic conditions. This study investigated microbial community dynamics in 130-year-old tailings, comparing surface (0-10 cm) and subsurface (50-100 cm) layers. The tailings exhibited acidic conditions and nutrient oligotrophic, with elevated iron and arsenic concentrations. While mineralogical analysis identified quartz and lead arsenate (PbAs2O6) as dominant phases. Bacterial diversity decreased significantly with depth and community structure was depth-stratified, whereas fungal communities showed structural stability despite variations in richness. pH emerged as the primary factor influencing both bacterial and fungal community assembly, with metal(loid) concentrations also contributing to taxonomic distribution. Keystone taxa exhibited genetic potential for carbon fixation, phosphorus solubilization, and arsenic detoxification, with cross-domain co-occurrence suggesting functional complementarity. This study elucidates the microbial mechanisms underpining arsenic stabilization and nutrient cycling in century-old mine tailings, providing a foundation for targeted bioremediation strategies.
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