Isolation and Characterization of Bacteria from Coal Mines of Dara Adam Khel,Pakistan

The coal fields of Pakistan and their microbiology have not been fully explored. Therefore, a study was conducted on the coal mines of Dara Adam Khel located in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan. For this purpose, sampling was done from nine different mines with varying depths. A total of 32 bacterial strains were isolated and their colony size, form, texture, color, margin, elevation and opacity were noted. The majority of the strains (75%) were found Gram negative. The bacterial strains were then characterized in detail by different biochemical tests including catalase, citrate, oxidase, indole, triple sugar iron, motility, methyl red-Vogues Proskeur, nitrate reduction and phenylalanine deaminase, and an enormous physiological diversity was observed. The Gram positive strains were further characterized on molecular level using 16S rRNA gene amplification and sequence analysis. Based on molecular analysis, seven strains were identified as Bacillus tequilensis, B. cereus, Janibacter melonis, Kocuria atrinae, B. anthracis, K. rosea and B. simplex. The other two strains (strains 6 and 41) had molecular similarity of only 98% and 97% with Brachybacterium spp. and Arthrobacter spp. respectively. The phylogenetic analysis further suggested that the strains 6 and 41 may be potential candidates for novel species; however, further work is needed for confirmation.     

Wetland vegetation ecology on a reclaimed coal surface mine in southern Illinois,USA

An early successional wetland complex on a reclaimed surface coal mine in southern Illinois was studied 1985–1987. Seasonally, biomass was low, with above-ground values of 10–210g m^–2 and below-ground biomass of 1.5–2435 g m^–2. Biomass peaked in spring and did not vary much throughout the remainder of the growing season. Stem densities were high (179–1467 m^–2) because large numbers of seedlings became established as falling water levels exposed large areas of mudflats. Fluctuating water levels led to a lack of community zonation. Species diversity (H) was low to moderate over all sites with diversity values ranging between 1.86 and 3.27.     

Extremely halophilic archaea and the issue of long-term microbial survival

Halophilic archaebacteria (haloarchaea) thrive in environments with salt concentrations approaching saturation, such as natural brines, the Dead Sea, alkaline salt lakes and marine solar salterns; they have also been isolated from rock salt of great geological age (195–250 million years). An overview of their taxonomy, including novel isolates from rock salt, is presented here; in addition, some of their unique characteristics and physiological adaptations to environments of low water activity are reviewed. The issue of extreme long-term microbial survival is considered and its implications for the search for extraterrestrial life. The development of detection methods for subterranean haloarchaea, which might also be applicable to samples from future missions to space, is presented.     

Bacterial weathering of rapakivi granite

Rapakivi granite samples were incubated with Pseudomonas aeruginosa culture solutions in order to elucidate the possible role of bacteria in rapakivi (crumbling stone) disintegration. SEM micrographs showed micromorphological alterations on the incubated rapakivi surface at 21 to 23°C for 20 days. Elevated concentrations of Na, Ca, K, Fe, and Mg were detected in the culture solutions after incubation. Elemental oxide ratios [K₂O : (Na₂O + CaO)] in culture solutions were similar to those in rapakivi ovoids, suggesting a proportional dissolution pattern of these elements.     

Roles of benthic algae in the structure,function, and assessment of stream ecosystems affected by acid mine drainage

Tens of thousands of stream kilometers worldwide are degraded by a legacy of acid loads, high metal concentrations, and altered habitat caused by acid mine drainage (AMD) from abandoned underground and surface mines. As the primary production base in streams, the condition of algal‐dominated periphyton communities is particularly important to nutrient cycling, energy flow, and higher trophic levels. Here, we synthesize current knowledge regarding how AMD‐associated stressors affect (i) algal communities and their use as ecological indicators, (ii) their functional roles in stream ecosystems, and (iii) how these findings inform management decisions and evaluation of restoration effectiveness. A growing body of research has found ecosystem simplification caused by AMD stressors. Species diversity declines, productivity decreases, and less efficient nutrient uptake and retention occur as AMD severity increases. New monitoring approaches, indices of biological condition, and attributes of algal community structure and function effectively assess AMD severity and effectiveness of management practices. Measures of ecosystem processes, such as nutrient uptake rates, extracellular enzyme activities, and metabolism, are increasingly being used as assessment tools, but remain in their infancy relative to traditional community structure‐based approaches. The continued development, testing, and implementation of functional measures and their use alongside community structure metrics will further advance assessments, inform management decisions, and foster progress toward restoration goals. Algal assessments will have important roles in making progress toward improving and sustaining the water quality, ecological condition, and ecosystem services of streams in regions affected by the legacy of unregulated coal mining.     

Geochemical Modeling and Remediation of Heavy Metals and Trace Elements from Artisanal Mines Discharge

Geochemical modeling of heavy metals released from the activities of artisanal mining for gold exploitation was investigated in this study. Samples of mine water and sediment discharges were collected before and after treatment. Untreated discharge shows pollutant of arsenic, lead, cadmium and iron in water and sediment above the acceptable standard. Manganese was above detection limit in the treated water discharge after treatment. Aqueous modeling in solution and solid-state reaction showed over-saturated indices for tenorite, bixbyite, cupric ferrite, cerrusite and manganite in the untreated mines discharge and hausmannite, ferrihydrite and goethite after treatment.The identified toxic metals were absent or had low contamination factor in the mines discharge water after treatment. The study highlights the danger posed by artisanal mining to the environment and suggests treatment method.     

我国废弃矿山生态修复研究

实施废弃矿山生态修复工程,是适应社会主义生态文明建设的必然要求,是遵循自然规律,破解矿区生态环境保护修复难题的重要举措。矿产资源开发后遗留下来的废弃矿山不可避免地影响和破坏区域生态环境和生态系统,基于我国废弃矿山分布及其主要环境问题现状,结合我国区域生态特征,提出了我国废弃矿山生态修复策略。参考我国生态综合区划,同时结合地形地貌、区域生态系统结构与功能等因素,划定我国废弃矿山生态修复区,明确我国废弃矿山生态修复总体思路与基本原则,提出废弃矿山生态修复的主要模式;在综合分析区域生态系统稳定性、自然地理、气候条件以及废弃矿山特征的基础上,识别各区域内存在的主要环境和生态问题,有针对性地提出控制生态系统退化、修复受损生态功能的主要措施,为我国废弃矿山的生态修复工作提供技术支撑和决策依据。