Bacterial copper ore processing. Water flowing into a bioleaching bath, where copper is extracted from concentrated solutions of copper sulphide ores.
Bacterial copper ore processing. Water flowing into a bioleaching bath, where copper is extracted from concentrated solutions of copper sulphide ores. Bioleaching uses natural micro-organisms to catalyse the oxidation of sulphide minerals, causing the deposition of copper precipitates (blue). This site is at the open-pit Skouriotissa copper mine, located near Lefka in north-west Cyprus. Mining of copper has taken place here for over 4000 years, with modern techniques including bioleaching and electrolysis.
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Photo credit: © DIRK WIERSMA/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
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