Bacterial and Archaeal Diversity in Sulfide-Bearing Waste Rock at Faro Mine Complex, Yukon Territory, Canada

Eva Pakostova; D. Barrie Johnson; Zhongwen Bao; Peter M. MacKenzie; Carol J. Ptacek; David W.  Blowes

doi:10.1080/01490451.2020.1731020

Bacterial and Archaeal Diversity in Sulfide-Bearing Waste Rock at Faro Mine Complex, Yukon Territory, Canada

Eva Pakostova, D. Barrie Johnson, Zhongwen Bao, Peter M. MacKenzie, Carol J. Ptacek, David W. Blowes

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Abstract

Acid mine/rock drainage (AMD/ARD) is generated by the microbially-accelerated oxidative dissolution of sulfide minerals in working and abandoned mine sites, and some natural environments. Iron-oxidizing microorganisms (IOM) regenerate the oxidant Fe3+, while sulfur-oxidizing microorganisms (SOM) contribute to AMD/ARD by generating H2SO4 via the oxidation of elemental S and reduced inorganic sulfur compounds. Bacterial and archaeal diversity in 34 samples of sulfide-bearing waste rock recovered from three boreholes at the Faro Mine Complex (Yukon Territory, Canada; Pb/Zn production from 1969 to 1998) was investigated using high-throughput amplicon sequencing of 16S rRNA genes. A majority of the borehole pore water samples had circum-neutral or mildly alkaline pH (6.38.7), while some had low pH (3.35.2). Mean relative abundance of prokaryotic SOM/IOM accounted for 3.4% of the total amplicons. The acidophilic genera Alicyclobacillus and Acidithiobacillus were the most abundant sulfur- and iron-metabolizing prokaryotes detected, followed by neutrophilic and moderately acidophilic (non-iron-oxidizing) SOM. Sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) were also detected, accounting for 0.6% of total reads. The presence of both acidophilic and neutrophilic prokaryotes catalyzing transformations of sulfur and iron in the same samples suggests development of microenvironments within the waste rock where dynamic biogeochemical transformations of these elements occur.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	511–519
Number of pages	9
Journal	Geomicrobiology Journal
Volume	37
Issue number	6
Early online date	26 Feb 2020
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/01490451.2020.1731020
Publication status	Published - 1 Jun 2020

Bibliographical note

This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Geomicrobiology Journal, on 26/02/2020 available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/01490451.2020.1731020

Copyright © and Moral Rights are retained by the author(s) and/ or other copyright owners. A copy can be downloaded for personal non-commercial research or study, without prior permission or charge. This item cannot be reproduced or quoted extensively from without first obtaining permission in writing from the copyright holder(s). The content must not be changed in any way or sold commercially in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders.

Keywords

Acid mine drainage
iron-oxidizers
mine waste
sulfur-oxidizers
waste-rock dump

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Microbiology
Environmental Chemistry
Environmental Science(all)
Earth and Planetary Sciences (miscellaneous)

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10.1080/01490451.2020.1731020

Post-PrintAccepted author manuscript, 706 KBLicence: CC BY-NC-ND

Cite this

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title = "Bacterial and Archaeal Diversity in Sulfide-Bearing Waste Rock at Faro Mine Complex, Yukon Territory, Canada",

abstract = "Acid mine/rock drainage (AMD/ARD) is generated by the microbially-accelerated oxidative dissolution of sulfide minerals in working and abandoned mine sites, and some natural environments. Iron-oxidizing microorganisms (IOM) regenerate the oxidant Fe3+, while sulfur-oxidizing microorganisms (SOM) contribute to AMD/ARD by generating H2SO4 via the oxidation of elemental S and reduced inorganic sulfur compounds. Bacterial and archaeal diversity in 34 samples of sulfide-bearing waste rock recovered from three boreholes at the Faro Mine Complex (Yukon Territory, Canada; Pb/Zn production from 1969 to 1998) was investigated using high-throughput amplicon sequencing of 16S rRNA genes. A majority of the borehole pore water samples had circum-neutral or mildly alkaline pH (6.38.7), while some had low pH (3.35.2). Mean relative abundance of prokaryotic SOM/IOM accounted for 3.4% of the total amplicons. The acidophilic genera Alicyclobacillus and Acidithiobacillus were the most abundant sulfur- and iron-metabolizing prokaryotes detected, followed by neutrophilic and moderately acidophilic (non-iron-oxidizing) SOM. Sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) were also detected, accounting for 0.6% of total reads. The presence of both acidophilic and neutrophilic prokaryotes catalyzing transformations of sulfur and iron in the same samples suggests development of microenvironments within the waste rock where dynamic biogeochemical transformations of these elements occur.",

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author = "Eva Pakostova and Johnson, {D. Barrie} and Zhongwen Bao and MacKenzie, {Peter M.} and Ptacek, {Carol J.} and Blowes, {David W.}",

note = "This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Geomicrobiology Journal, on 26/02/2020 available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/01490451.2020.1731020 Copyright {\textcopyright} and Moral Rights are retained by the author(s) and/ or other copyright owners. A copy can be downloaded for personal non-commercial research or study, without prior permission or charge. This item cannot be reproduced or quoted extensively from without first obtaining permission in writing from the copyright holder(s). The content must not be changed in any way or sold commercially in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders. ",

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AU - Blowes, David W.

N1 - This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Geomicrobiology Journal, on 26/02/2020 available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/01490451.2020.1731020 Copyright © and Moral Rights are retained by the author(s) and/ or other copyright owners. A copy can be downloaded for personal non-commercial research or study, without prior permission or charge. This item cannot be reproduced or quoted extensively from without first obtaining permission in writing from the copyright holder(s). The content must not be changed in any way or sold commercially in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders.

PY - 2020/6/1

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N2 - Acid mine/rock drainage (AMD/ARD) is generated by the microbially-accelerated oxidative dissolution of sulfide minerals in working and abandoned mine sites, and some natural environments. Iron-oxidizing microorganisms (IOM) regenerate the oxidant Fe3+, while sulfur-oxidizing microorganisms (SOM) contribute to AMD/ARD by generating H2SO4 via the oxidation of elemental S and reduced inorganic sulfur compounds. Bacterial and archaeal diversity in 34 samples of sulfide-bearing waste rock recovered from three boreholes at the Faro Mine Complex (Yukon Territory, Canada; Pb/Zn production from 1969 to 1998) was investigated using high-throughput amplicon sequencing of 16S rRNA genes. A majority of the borehole pore water samples had circum-neutral or mildly alkaline pH (6.38.7), while some had low pH (3.35.2). Mean relative abundance of prokaryotic SOM/IOM accounted for 3.4% of the total amplicons. The acidophilic genera Alicyclobacillus and Acidithiobacillus were the most abundant sulfur- and iron-metabolizing prokaryotes detected, followed by neutrophilic and moderately acidophilic (non-iron-oxidizing) SOM. Sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) were also detected, accounting for 0.6% of total reads. The presence of both acidophilic and neutrophilic prokaryotes catalyzing transformations of sulfur and iron in the same samples suggests development of microenvironments within the waste rock where dynamic biogeochemical transformations of these elements occur.

AB - Acid mine/rock drainage (AMD/ARD) is generated by the microbially-accelerated oxidative dissolution of sulfide minerals in working and abandoned mine sites, and some natural environments. Iron-oxidizing microorganisms (IOM) regenerate the oxidant Fe3+, while sulfur-oxidizing microorganisms (SOM) contribute to AMD/ARD by generating H2SO4 via the oxidation of elemental S and reduced inorganic sulfur compounds. Bacterial and archaeal diversity in 34 samples of sulfide-bearing waste rock recovered from three boreholes at the Faro Mine Complex (Yukon Territory, Canada; Pb/Zn production from 1969 to 1998) was investigated using high-throughput amplicon sequencing of 16S rRNA genes. A majority of the borehole pore water samples had circum-neutral or mildly alkaline pH (6.38.7), while some had low pH (3.35.2). Mean relative abundance of prokaryotic SOM/IOM accounted for 3.4% of the total amplicons. The acidophilic genera Alicyclobacillus and Acidithiobacillus were the most abundant sulfur- and iron-metabolizing prokaryotes detected, followed by neutrophilic and moderately acidophilic (non-iron-oxidizing) SOM. Sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) were also detected, accounting for 0.6% of total reads. The presence of both acidophilic and neutrophilic prokaryotes catalyzing transformations of sulfur and iron in the same samples suggests development of microenvironments within the waste rock where dynamic biogeochemical transformations of these elements occur.

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DO - 10.1080/01490451.2020.1731020

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EP - 519

JO - Geomicrobiology Journal

JF - Geomicrobiology Journal

SN - 0149-0451

IS - 6

ER -

Bacterial and Archaeal Diversity in Sulfide-Bearing Waste Rock at Faro Mine Complex, Yukon Territory, Canada

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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