We submit this article to further substantiate our earlier reports on the potential for using microorganisms for the extraction of values - both organic, with potential fuel applications, and metallurgical - from coal and coal wastes. The very basic research Joe assisted in at WVU, in the 1970's, was focused on assaying the content of organic compounds, with potential extractable value, and of metal compounds, such as those of zinc and aluminum, that were present in mine wastes and their effluents, along with the microbial species that were associated with those compounds.
Note especially the final sentence in this excerpt from the abstract.
| "Author | Brierley, Corale L. ; Brierley, James A. |
| Society / Organization | AIME |
| Summary / Abstract | Microorganisms have been considered as agents which may be of importance in catalyzing hydrometallurgical processes for the extraction of metals from low-grade ore minerals. Various microorganisms and their role in bacterial leaching are described. Bacterial leaching as applied to copper, uranium, zinc, lead, and coal is discussed..." |