Abstract:Elective culture of bacteria on pyrrhotite was researched, and the selected bacteria were tested on bioleaching of marmatite and zinc sulfide ore. The results show that the microorganism cultured on pyrrhotite with various S/Fe ratios is a mixed culture of thiobacillus ferrooxidans and thiobacillus thiooxidans, of which the integral activity and the oxidation capability of Fe²⁺ and S are enhanced. With the high Fe and low S content of pyrrhotite, the oxidation capacity of ferrous ion is improved; on the contrary, the oxidation capacity of sulfur is advanced. The bioleaching capacity of bacteria cultured on marmatite is better than that of the bacteria cultivated by conventional methods.

Key words:  pyrrhotite; elective culture; bioleaching; marmatite