Autotrophic biofilm development on superficial samples of the gold-silver mine tailings, Valenciana (Mexico): pioneers in tailings remediation?
We report the results of long term bio-assays on microorganism colonization of mine tailings samples, taken from the Valenciana mine tailings (Guanajuato, Mexico), under stable laboratory conditions (humidity, temperature, light exposure). In order to identify the main metabolic groups of the potentially colonizing microorganisms and the implications of their growth on the main tailing's characteristics related to biological succession, organic matter (OM) content, cationic exchange capacity (CEC), and pH values were measured as the colonization took place. We observe that photosynthetic biofilms (cyanobacteria, green algae, and diatoms) successfully colonize the mine tailings samples as pioneers; moreover, bacteria, yeast and fungi were also identified. Biofilm colonization significantly improved the OM contents, whereas the pH value is not modified during the entire observed colonization process. The results suggest that biofilms are useful during the first steps of the mine tailings remediation. This is the first report of microalgae and cyanobacteria grown of on tailings samples obtained from a semiarid region.
Geomicrobiology, Institute of Metallurgy, University of San Luis Potosí, UASLP, Sierra Leona 550, Lomas 2a. Sección, San Luis Potosi 78210, SLP, Mexico. jvgm@uaslp.mx
Jessica Viridiana
JV
García-Meza
D001420:Bacteria, Aerobic / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001421:Bacteria, Anaerobic / Q000302:isolation & purification; D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development*; D000460:Chlorophyta / Q000502:physiology*; D000458:Cyanobacteria / Q000502:physiology*; D017377:Diatoms / Q000502:physiology*; D005658:Fungi / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006046:Gold; D008800:Mexico; D008906:Mining; D012834:Silver
D012834:Silver; D006046:Gold