The mining bug

With shortages of essential metals predicted, the mining industry is turning to bacteria to make use of poorer ores, and even extract metals from old mining waste.Yet Europe has ores and minerals of its own, many of which have been economically exploitable in the past. So with impending scarcity whether for political reasons or depletion of natural resources in mind, European scientists are examining the potential to extract metals from low grade unexploited ores, mining wastes and process-wastes using mineral-munching bacteria.