Bioleaching and interrelated acidophilic microorganisms from río tinto, Spain

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Abstract
An ecological study of the microbial communities of the Tinto River showed a high level of diversity, which was not expected due to the extreme conditions of the habitat: pH around 2 and high levels of metallic cations. The physical and chemical parameters of the river were measured and could be correlated with the microbial communities identified along its course. A geomicrobiological model is presented in which the extreme conditions of the river are due to microbial activity rather than to inadequate pollution control in the mining operations.