Microbial succession and mineral leaching in an artificial coal spoil
An artificial pyritic coal spoil was prepared and examined over a period of 1.5 years for changes in the population of various physiological varieties of bacteria and also for mineral leaching. Heterotrophic bacteria were the first to dominate the spoil. Sulfur-oxidizing autotrophic bacteria (Thiobacillus) and finally iron-oxidizing bacteria (Thiobacillus ferrooxidans) increased in the population, the latter becoming the dominant species where acidity was greatest. Partition of species paralleled partition of acidity in the spoil. Molds (notably, Aspergillus), algae (Chlorococcales, Oscillatoria, Navicula), cilliated and flagellated protozoa, an arthropod (Podura aquatica), and a moss (aberrant Physcomitrium pyriforme) were observed. The mineral salts leached from the spoil, in decreasing order, were the sulfates of magnesium (predominantly hexahydrite), calcium (gypsum), sodium, aluminum (alunogenite), and iron.
- Research Organization:
- Univ. of Missouri, Columbia
- OSTI ID:
- 6163984
- Journal Information:
- Appl. Environ. Microbiol.; (United States), Vol. 36:6
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ALGAE
POPULATION DYNAMICS
ALUNITE
LEACHING
BACTERIA
CALCIUM SULFATES
IRON SULFATES
MAGNESIUM SULFATES
PROTOZOA
SODIUM SULFATES
COAL MINING
METABOLISM
PH VALUE
THIOBACILLUS FERROXIDANS
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
ALUMINIUM COMPOUNDS
ALUMINIUM SULFATES
ANIMALS
BACILLUS
CALCIUM COMPOUNDS
DISSOLUTION
INVERTEBRATES
IRON COMPOUNDS
MAGNESIUM COMPOUNDS
MICROORGANISMS
MINERALS
MINING
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PLANTS
POTASSIUM COMPOUNDS
POTASSIUM SULFATES
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SODIUM COMPOUNDS
SULFATES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
010900* - Coal
Lignite
& Peat- Environmental Aspects
550700 - Microbiology