0 a way of obtaining metal from ore (= rock that contains metal) or waste by using simple living organisms such as bacteria or fungi to break it down:
Biomining can be used to extract gold from minerals containing arsenic and pyrite.
Biomining provides a novel solution to complex environmental issues.
Biomining is an environmentally friendly technique compared to traditional mining.
His experiment proved that micro-organisms have mechanisms for sensing and taking up metals for use in the cell, leading to the development of complex modern biomining systems.