Abstract:This paper reviews the current status of commercial biomining operations around the world, identifies factors that drive the selection of biomining as a processing technology, describes challenges to exploiting these innovations, and concludes with a discussion of biomining’s future. Biomining is commercially applied using engineered dumps, heaps and stirred tanks. Overcoming the technical challenges of lowering costs, processing low-grade, low-quality and complex ores and utilizing existing capital investments at mines requires better understanding of microbial activities and innovative engineering. Surmounting biomining commercial challenges entails improved mining company/biomining innovator cooperation and intellectual property control.

Key words: biomining; dump bioleaching; heap bioleaching; continuous stirred-tank bioleaching