Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 3, 2026
09:50
Electrochemically and Bioelectrochemically Induced Ammonium Recovery
Published on: January 22, 2015
Mining rare earth elements with ammonium sulfate as a leaching agent provokes a significant perturbation in soil
Yong-He Han1, Ming-Zhu Zou1, Xue-Mei Wei2
1Fujian Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350117, China.
Journal of Hazardous Materials
|July 1, 2026
Summary
Rare earth element (REE) mining severely degrades soil, altering geochemistry and microbial communities. Soil degradation, not REE depletion, drives ecosystem changes, impacting vital functions like carbon and nitrogen cycling.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Soil Science
- Microbiology
Background:
- Rare earth element (REE) mining is crucial for modern technologies but causes significant soil degradation.
- Ammonium sulfate-based in-situ leaching is a common method leading to soil ecosystem disruption.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct a comprehensive metagenomic assessment of soil ecosystem changes due to REE mining.
- To analyze the impact of mining on soil geochemistry and microbial community structure and function.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of paired soil samples from mined and unmined sites in a Chinese REE deposit region.
- Metagenomic sequencing to assess microbial diversity and community composition.
- Geochemical analysis of soil properties (pH, total carbon, total nitrogen, REE content).
Main Results:
- Mining significantly altered soil geochemistry, decreasing pH and total carbon while increasing total nitrogen.
- REE content decreased, with a restructured composition; microbial diversity was notably lower in mined soils.
- Bacterial and fungal communities shifted dramatically, with implications for nutrient cycling and ecosystem functions.
Conclusions:
- Mining-induced soil degradation, particularly changes in pH, total carbon, and magnesium, is the primary driver of microbial restructuring.
- Key microbial taxa can serve as biomarkers for soil health and ecosystem function recovery in post-mining landscapes.
- Suppressed metabolic pathways highlight the widespread impact of mining on crucial ecosystem services.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Microbial Leaching
Microbial leaching, also known as bioleaching, is an environmentally favorable method for extracting metals from low-grade ores using specific microorganisms. This biotechnological approach is particularly valuable for mining operations targeting copper, gold, and uranium, where traditional extraction methods may be economically or environmentally impractical.Copper Leaching and Microbial CatalysisIn copper bioleaching, crushed ore is arranged into heaps and irrigated with a dilute sulfuric...
01:19Acid Mine Drainage
Mining activities that disturb sulfide-rich rocks, particularly those containing pyrite (FeS₂), initiate a cascade of geochemical and microbiological processes with serious environmental implications. When exposed to air and water, pyrite undergoes oxidation, releasing sulfate, ultimately forming sulfuric acid and mobilizing heavy metals into surrounding water systems. This phenomenon, known as acid mine drainage (AMD), results in low pH waters laden with toxic elements that threaten aquatic...
01:25Microbial Bioremediation of Uranium
Microorganisms play a critical role in the transformation and immobilization of uranium in contaminated environments through four main pathways: bioreduction, biosorption, bioaccumulation, and biomineralization. These mechanisms reduce uranium’s toxicity and prevent its migration through groundwater systems, offering sustainable approaches for in situ bioremediation.Bioreduction of UraniumBioreduction is driven by anaerobic bacteria such as certain strains of Geobacter and Shewanella, which use...
01:15Metabolism of Chemolithotrophs
Chemolithotrophs are microorganisms that obtain energy by oxidizing inorganic molecules such as hydrogen gas (H₂), ammonia (NH₃), reduced sulfur compounds (H₂S, S²⁻), and ferrous iron (Fe²⁺). Unlike heterotrophic organisms that rely on organic carbon, chemolithotrophs transfer electrons from these inorganic donors to the electron transport chain (ETC), generating a proton motive force (PMF) that drives ATP synthesis through oxidative phosphorylation. However, because inorganic electron donors...
01:29Soil Microbial Ecology
Soil microbial ecology is defined by highly diverse, spatially structured communities that drive nutrient cycling, organic matter turnover, and overall ecosystem stability. Although a gram of soil can contain thousands of bacterial and archaeal taxa, the ecological processes they mediate are even more crucial for sustaining terrestrial life.Microhabitats and NichesSoil is a heterogeneous mixture of minerals, organic matter, water, and air. Microbes inhabit distinct microhabitats formed by...
01:24Microbes and Other Elemental Cycles
Microbial activity plays a pivotal role in the biogeochemical cycling of iron and manganese, especially at the redox gradients characteristic of stratified aquatic environments. These cycles are driven by microbial transformations between oxidized and reduced forms of the metals, allowing organisms to exploit them for metabolic energy and structural purposes.Iron Cycling Across Redox GradientsIn neutral, oxygen-rich surface waters, iron is predominantly found in its oxidized, insoluble ferric...