The culturable bacteria isolated from organic-rich black shale potentially useful in biometallurgical procedures

Aims: The aim of this study was the isolation and characterization of micro-organisms from Lubin copper mine potentially useful in biotechnology of metal recovery from copper bearing black shale. Methods and Results: Eight bacterial strains were isolated from black shale ore. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene homology showed that five strains belonged to the gamma-Proteobacteria, one to the Firmicutes and two to the Actinobacteria. The ability of the isolates to transform bituminous shale and use them as carbon and energy sources, as well as high resistance to metals and metalloids, esterase and lipase activities, assimilation of organic acids, degradation of phenanthrene and siderophores production were shown. Conclusions: The indigenous bacteria exhibited a broad range of physiological properties related to geochemical parameters of the examined environment and potentially useful in biometallurgical procedures. Significance and Impact of the Study: The results have yielded new insights into the microbiology of black shale. It can be suggested that isolated micro-organisms might play a role in the geochemical cycle of carbon and metals occurring in the organic fraction of black shale ore and might be of potential use in biotechnological procedures for the copper recovery and other valuable metals from tailings containing black shale as well as organic rich ore.