Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site asgb.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!seismo!hao!asgb!devine From: devine@asgb.UUCP (Robert J. Devine) Newsgroups: net.bio Subject: Re: Rumor about "germs" used for gold mining. Message-ID: <813@asgb.UUCP> Date: Fri, 8-Nov-85 14:25:29 EST Article-I.D.: asgb.813 Posted: Fri Nov 8 14:25:29 1985 Date-Received: Sun, 10-Nov-85 15:12:28 EST References: <168@octopus.UUCP> Organization: Burroughs Corp. ASG, Boulder Colo. Lines: 24 The Denver Post just recently (I believe it was last Sunday) had an article on the person who proposes doing just that -- "mining" for gold using a certain strain of bacteria. This person has a bacteria named after him (an honor, I suppose :-)) because he was the one who isolated it from an environment that was thought to be too hostile for any life. The bacteria loves high temperature and high acidity as long as there is metal around. From what I remember of the gold extraction process, a tailored bacteria is applied to walls of mines that have had the all easily mined gold removed. The bacteria feeds on a binding material (sulfur ?) releasing the gold. To recover this freed gold, the walls are hosed down and the washing processed. The guy also proposes using bacteria to recover the gold from jeweler washings and scrap. He says he can now do it cheaper than chemical recovery methods. If you want the man's name or just more information, send mail. I'll dig up the article. Bob Devine (seismo!hao!asgb!devine || sdcrdcf!bmcg!asgb!devine)