Biogeochemical Processes Governing Natural Pyrite Oxidation and Release of Acid Metalliferous Drainage

“…The first aspect is the higher pH value of PM5 (pH 2.20) relative to PM4 (pH 1.7). Our result is in accordance with previous studies showing that pH is consistently considered as the main factor shaping microbial community in sulphidic mine tailings [35,36]. Archaea, bacteria and eukaryotes populating…”

“…First, this study confirms that the acidification of pyritic mine tailings is associated with a temporal progression of bacterial and archaeal phylotypes, beginning with pH sensitive Thiobacillus and Thiomonas species and progressing to communities dominated by acid-tolerant Leptospirillum and Ferroplasma species. This confirms results from previous single time-point pH surveys of mine tailings materials, presumed to be at distinct pyrite oxidation stages based on the mineralogy of the materials (Chen, et al, 2014; Chen, et al, 2013; Korechi et al, 2014). Second, compost amendment and plant establishment disrupt the “optimal” successional development of Fe/S-oxidizing microbial communities.…”

“…For example microbial communities in lead/zinc mine tailings samples in China with a pH range of 1.8-7.5 revealed a predominance of Proteobacteria, including the hydrogen-and sulfur-oxidizing genera Hydrogenophaga, Thiovirga and Thiobacillus, respectively, in the circumneutral samples at the initial weathering stage, while gene sequences related to the acidophilic, iron-oxidizing genera Ferroplasma (Euryarchaeota), Acidithiobacillus (Proteobacteria), Leptospirillum (Nitrospira) and Sulfobacillus (Firmicutes) were mainly detected in samples of lower pH and more intense weathering and iron precipitations (Chen et al, 2013). The finding that the composition of microbial communities in sulfidic mine tailings is mainly controlled by pH was also shown for copper mine tailings (Liu et al, 2014) and supported by experimental evidence (Chen et al, 2014).…”

“…The first aspect is the higher pH value of PM5 (pH 2.20) relative to PM4 (pH 1.7). Our result is in accordance with previous studies showing that pH is consistently considered as the main factor shaping microbial community in sulphidic mine tailings [35,36]. Archaea, bacteria and eukaryotes populating…”

“…First, this study confirms that the acidification of pyritic mine tailings is associated with a temporal progression of bacterial and archaeal phylotypes, beginning with pH sensitive Thiobacillus and Thiomonas species and progressing to communities dominated by acid-tolerant Leptospirillum and Ferroplasma species. This confirms results from previous single time-point pH surveys of mine tailings materials, presumed to be at distinct pyrite oxidation stages based on the mineralogy of the materials (Chen, et al, 2014; Chen, et al, 2013; Korechi et al, 2014). Second, compost amendment and plant establishment disrupt the “optimal” successional development of Fe/S-oxidizing microbial communities.…”

“…For example microbial communities in lead/zinc mine tailings samples in China with a pH range of 1.8-7.5 revealed a predominance of Proteobacteria, including the hydrogen-and sulfur-oxidizing genera Hydrogenophaga, Thiovirga and Thiobacillus, respectively, in the circumneutral samples at the initial weathering stage, while gene sequences related to the acidophilic, iron-oxidizing genera Ferroplasma (Euryarchaeota), Acidithiobacillus (Proteobacteria), Leptospirillum (Nitrospira) and Sulfobacillus (Firmicutes) were mainly detected in samples of lower pH and more intense weathering and iron precipitations (Chen et al, 2013). The finding that the composition of microbial communities in sulfidic mine tailings is mainly controlled by pH was also shown for copper mine tailings (Liu et al, 2014) and supported by experimental evidence (Chen et al, 2014).…”

“…The first aspect is the higher pH value of PM5 (pH 2.20) relative to PM4 (pH 1.7). Our result is in accordance with previous studies showing that pH is consistently considered as the main factor shaping microbial community in sulphidic mine tailings [35,36]. Archaea, bacteria and eukaryotes populating…”

“…First, this study confirms that the acidification of pyritic mine tailings is associated with a temporal progression of bacterial and archaeal phylotypes, beginning with pH sensitive Thiobacillus and Thiomonas species and progressing to communities dominated by acid-tolerant Leptospirillum and Ferroplasma species. This confirms results from previous single time-point pH surveys of mine tailings materials, presumed to be at distinct pyrite oxidation stages based on the mineralogy of the materials (Chen, et al, 2014; Chen, et al, 2013; Korechi et al, 2014). Second, compost amendment and plant establishment disrupt the “optimal” successional development of Fe/S-oxidizing microbial communities.…”

“…For example microbial communities in lead/zinc mine tailings samples in China with a pH range of 1.8-7.5 revealed a predominance of Proteobacteria, including the hydrogen-and sulfur-oxidizing genera Hydrogenophaga, Thiovirga and Thiobacillus, respectively, in the circumneutral samples at the initial weathering stage, while gene sequences related to the acidophilic, iron-oxidizing genera Ferroplasma (Euryarchaeota), Acidithiobacillus (Proteobacteria), Leptospirillum (Nitrospira) and Sulfobacillus (Firmicutes) were mainly detected in samples of lower pH and more intense weathering and iron precipitations (Chen et al, 2013). The finding that the composition of microbial communities in sulfidic mine tailings is mainly controlled by pH was also shown for copper mine tailings (Liu et al, 2014) and supported by experimental evidence (Chen et al, 2014).…”