Microbes for Mining: Transforming Mining Challenges into Opportunities

Speaker

Dr Samadhi Gunathunga

Abstract

The mining industry faces a range of challenges, including recovering valuable resources, managing mine wastes, reducing environmental impacts and moving towards more sustainable practices. Addressing these issues require innovative approaches that complement existing mining technologies and utilise natural processes. Microorganisms have evolved over billions of years to interact with minerals and thrive in diverse geological environments, influencing mineral transformation processes and elemental cycling. Harnessing these microbial capabilities provides opportunities to develop biological approaches across the mining lifecycle. Drawing on projects from across our research group, this presentation will highlight the potential of geomicrobiology to support a sustainable mining future-turning these challenges into valuable opportunities.

Bio

Sam (Samadhi) Gunathunga is a Geomicrobiologist at The University of Queensland, investigating how microbial-mineral interactions can be harnessed to develop sustainable solutions for the mining industry. By combining microbial ecology, molecular characterisation and geochemistry, she explores how microbial processes can be applied to support critical metal recovery, AMD remediation and mineral carbonation. Her work aims to bridge microbiology and geoscience to contribute to the transition towards more sustainable and circular mining practices.