Ecological engineering of iron ore tailings into useable soils for sustainable rehabilitation

Songlin Wu; Yunjia Liu; Gordon Southam; Tuan A.H. Nguyen; Kurt O. Konhauser; Fang You; Jeremy J. Bougoure; David Paterson; Ting Shan Chan; Ying Rui Lu; Shu Chih Haw; Qing Yi; Zhen Li; Lachlan M. Robertson; Merinda Hall; Narottam Saha; Yong Sik Ok; Longbin Huang

doi:10.1016/j.isci.2023.107102

Ecological engineering of iron ore tailings into useable soils for sustainable rehabilitation

Songlin Wu, Yunjia Liu, Gordon Southam, Tuan A.H. Nguyen, Kurt O. Konhauser, Fang You, Jeremy J. Bougoure, David Paterson, Ting Shan Chan, Ying Rui Lu, Shu Chih Haw, Qing Yi, Zhen Li, Lachlan M. Robertson, Merinda Hall, Narottam Saha, Yong Sik Ok, Longbin Huang

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

12 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Ecological engineering of soil formation in tailings is an emerging technology toward sustainable rehabilitation of iron (Fe) ore tailings landscapes worldwide, which requires the formation of well-organized and stable soil aggregates in finely textured tailings. Here, we demonstrate an approach using microbial and rhizosphere processes to progressively drive aggregate formation and development in Fe ore tailings. The aggregates were initially formed through the agglomeration of mineral particles by organic cements derived from microbial decomposition of exogenous organic matter. The aggregate stability was consolidated by colloidal nanosized Fe(III)-Si minerals formed during Fe-bearing primary mineral weathering driven by rhizosphere biogeochemical processes of pioneer plants. From these findings, we proposed a conceptual model for progressive aggregate structure development in the tailings with Fe(III)-Si rich cements as core nuclei. This renewable resource dependent eco-engineering approach opens a sustainable pathway to achieve resilient tailings rehabilitation without resorting to excavating natural soil resources.

Original language	English
Article number	107102
Journal	iScience
Volume	26
Issue number	7
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2023.107102
Publication status	Published - 2023 Jul 21

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 The Author(s)

Keywords

Environmental geochemistry
Environmental management
Soil
Soil chemistry

ASJC Scopus subject areas

General

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1016/j.isci.2023.107102

Cite this

Wu, S., Liu, Y., Southam, G., Nguyen, T. A. H., Konhauser, K. O., You, F., Bougoure, J. J., Paterson, D., Chan, T. S., Lu, Y. R., Haw, S. C., Yi, Q., Li, Z., Robertson, L. M., Hall, M., Saha, N., Ok, Y. S., & Huang, L. (2023). Ecological engineering of iron ore tailings into useable soils for sustainable rehabilitation. iScience, 26(7), Article 107102. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2023.107102

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abstract = "Ecological engineering of soil formation in tailings is an emerging technology toward sustainable rehabilitation of iron (Fe) ore tailings landscapes worldwide, which requires the formation of well-organized and stable soil aggregates in finely textured tailings. Here, we demonstrate an approach using microbial and rhizosphere processes to progressively drive aggregate formation and development in Fe ore tailings. The aggregates were initially formed through the agglomeration of mineral particles by organic cements derived from microbial decomposition of exogenous organic matter. The aggregate stability was consolidated by colloidal nanosized Fe(III)-Si minerals formed during Fe-bearing primary mineral weathering driven by rhizosphere biogeochemical processes of pioneer plants. From these findings, we proposed a conceptual model for progressive aggregate structure development in the tailings with Fe(III)-Si rich cements as core nuclei. This renewable resource dependent eco-engineering approach opens a sustainable pathway to achieve resilient tailings rehabilitation without resorting to excavating natural soil resources.",

keywords = "Environmental geochemistry, Environmental management, Soil, Soil chemistry",

author = "Songlin Wu and Yunjia Liu and Gordon Southam and Nguyen, {Tuan A.H.} and Konhauser, {Kurt O.} and Fang You and Bougoure, {Jeremy J.} and David Paterson and Chan, {Ting Shan} and Lu, {Ying Rui} and Haw, {Shu Chih} and Qing Yi and Zhen Li and Robertson, {Lachlan M.} and Merinda Hall and Narottam Saha and Ok, {Yong Sik} and Longbin Huang",

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doi = "10.1016/j.isci.2023.107102",

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AU - Liu, Yunjia

AU - Southam, Gordon

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AU - Konhauser, Kurt O.

AU - You, Fang

AU - Bougoure, Jeremy J.

AU - Paterson, David

AU - Chan, Ting Shan

AU - Lu, Ying Rui

AU - Haw, Shu Chih

AU - Yi, Qing

AU - Li, Zhen

AU - Robertson, Lachlan M.

AU - Hall, Merinda

AU - Saha, Narottam

AU - Ok, Yong Sik

AU - Huang, Longbin

PY - 2023/7/21

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N2 - Ecological engineering of soil formation in tailings is an emerging technology toward sustainable rehabilitation of iron (Fe) ore tailings landscapes worldwide, which requires the formation of well-organized and stable soil aggregates in finely textured tailings. Here, we demonstrate an approach using microbial and rhizosphere processes to progressively drive aggregate formation and development in Fe ore tailings. The aggregates were initially formed through the agglomeration of mineral particles by organic cements derived from microbial decomposition of exogenous organic matter. The aggregate stability was consolidated by colloidal nanosized Fe(III)-Si minerals formed during Fe-bearing primary mineral weathering driven by rhizosphere biogeochemical processes of pioneer plants. From these findings, we proposed a conceptual model for progressive aggregate structure development in the tailings with Fe(III)-Si rich cements as core nuclei. This renewable resource dependent eco-engineering approach opens a sustainable pathway to achieve resilient tailings rehabilitation without resorting to excavating natural soil resources.

AB - Ecological engineering of soil formation in tailings is an emerging technology toward sustainable rehabilitation of iron (Fe) ore tailings landscapes worldwide, which requires the formation of well-organized and stable soil aggregates in finely textured tailings. Here, we demonstrate an approach using microbial and rhizosphere processes to progressively drive aggregate formation and development in Fe ore tailings. The aggregates were initially formed through the agglomeration of mineral particles by organic cements derived from microbial decomposition of exogenous organic matter. The aggregate stability was consolidated by colloidal nanosized Fe(III)-Si minerals formed during Fe-bearing primary mineral weathering driven by rhizosphere biogeochemical processes of pioneer plants. From these findings, we proposed a conceptual model for progressive aggregate structure development in the tailings with Fe(III)-Si rich cements as core nuclei. This renewable resource dependent eco-engineering approach opens a sustainable pathway to achieve resilient tailings rehabilitation without resorting to excavating natural soil resources.

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Ecological engineering of iron ore tailings into useable soils for sustainable rehabilitation

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

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