Session: Microbial Ecology of Mine Waste Reclamation and Ecosystem Regeneration Oral

Division: SSSA Division: Soil Biology and Biochemistry

Title: Microbial Ecology of Mine Waste Reclamation and Ecosystem Regeneration Oral

Lead Community Sponsor:
Cosponsor: SSSA Division: Soils and Environmental Quality
Community Cosponsor:
Format: Oral Topical Session
Keywords: microbial diversity, mine waste reclamation, plant growth promoting bacteria and plant-sustaining soil

Session Description: Extensive land disturbance caused by metalliferous and other surface mining activities leads to major reclamation challenges. Mining activities generate massive quantities of solid wastes that include both tailings that remain after resource extraction and waste rock comprised of materials with metal concentrations too low for economic extraction. Microbial communities play key roles in the management of mine wastes and the transformation of these materials into substrates that more closely resemble natural soils and that support self-sustaining plant forms. This session is focused on microbially-driven processes important to the health and reclamation of mine wastes and mine impacted soils.