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

1 Citation (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

Funding Information:
The work is financially supported by Australian Research Council Linkage Project ( LP160100598 ), Karara Mining limited , and The Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority (BGPA). S. Wu also acknowledges the UQECR funding ( 613767 ). XFM mapping was undertaken on the XFM beamline at the Australian Synchrotron, part of ANSTO ( AS182/XFM/13331 ). The XAS analysis was undertaken on the XAS beamline at the Australian Synchrotron, part of ANSTO (Project Reference No: AS191/XAS/14392 ), as well as 01C1, 17C1 and 20A1 beamline in National Synchrotron Radiation Research Centre (NSRRC), Taiwan. The authors also thank Dr Jin-Ming Chen in Beamline 20A1 and Dr Jyh-Fu Lee in beamline 17C1, NSRRC, Taiwan for technical support in XAS analysis. Dr Jeremy Wykes at XAS beamline of Australian synchrotron is also acknowledged for technical support in XAS analysis. NanoSIMS analysis was done at Center for Microscopy, Characterization and Analysis at University of Western Australia. The authors acknowledge staffs in Australian Microscopy & Microanalysis Research Facility at the Center for Microscopy and Microanalysis, The University of Queensland for assistance in XRD, XPS and BSE-SEM-EDS analysis. The Australian Center for Ecogenomics, the University of Queensland, Australia was acknowledged for Illumina sequencing analysis. Dr Elaine Wrightman in JKMRC, SMI, UQ has been acknowledged for support in MLA analysis. We also thank Dr Shuncai Wang and Jingfang Xue for help on the plant cultivation, maintenance, and harvest, as well as lab analysis.

Funding Information:
The work is financially supported by Australian Research Council Linkage Project (LP160100598), Karara Mining limited, and The Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority (BGPA). S. Wu also acknowledges the UQECR funding (613767). XFM mapping was undertaken on the XFM beamline at the Australian Synchrotron, part of ANSTO (AS182/XFM/13331). The XAS analysis was undertaken on the XAS beamline at the Australian Synchrotron, part of ANSTO (Project Reference No: AS191/XAS/14392), as well as 01C1, 17C1 and 20A1 beamline in National Synchrotron Radiation Research Centre (NSRRC), Taiwan. The authors also thank Dr Jin-Ming Chen in Beamline 20A1 and Dr Jyh-Fu Lee in beamline 17C1, NSRRC, Taiwan for technical support in XAS analysis. Dr Jeremy Wykes at XAS beamline of Australian synchrotron is also acknowledged for technical support in XAS analysis. NanoSIMS analysis was done at Center for Microscopy, Characterization and Analysis at University of Western Australia. The authors acknowledge staffs in Australian Microscopy & Microanalysis Research Facility at the Center for Microscopy and Microanalysis, The University of Queensland for assistance in XRD, XPS and BSE-SEM-EDS analysis. The Australian Center for Ecogenomics, the University of Queensland, Australia was acknowledged for Illumina sequencing analysis. Dr Elaine Wrightman in JKMRC, SMI, UQ has been acknowledged for support in MLA analysis. We also thank Dr Shuncai Wang and Jingfang Xue for help on the plant cultivation, maintenance, and harvest, as well as lab analysis. S.W.: Conceptualization, Experimental design and conduction, Methodology, Data analysis, Writing-original draft, and review & editing; Y.L.: Methodology (Plant harvest, XFM analysis); Z.L. L.R. and Q.Y.: Methodology (Plant harvest, wet sieving); F.Y.: Methodology (Microbial community analysis); J.J.B.: Methodology (NanoSIMS analysis); D.P.: Methodology (XFM analysis); S.C.H.: Methodology (C 1s NEXAFS analysis); T.S.C. and Y.R.L.: Methodology (Fe K edge XAFS analysis); M.H. and N. S.: Methodology (ICP-OES analysis); G.S. K.K. T.N. and Y.S.O.: Writing-review & editing; L.H.: Conceptualization, Experimental design, Project administration, Funding acquisition, Writing-review & editing. The authors declare no competing interests. We support inclusive, diverse, and equitable conduct of research.

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

@article{955ad2ef703a4a0797d63cc48a5b28e6,

title = "Ecological engineering of iron ore tailings into useable soils for sustainable rehabilitation",

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",

note = "Funding Information: The work is financially supported by Australian Research Council Linkage Project ( LP160100598 ), Karara Mining limited , and The Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority (BGPA). S. Wu also acknowledges the UQECR funding ( 613767 ). XFM mapping was undertaken on the XFM beamline at the Australian Synchrotron, part of ANSTO ( AS182/XFM/13331 ). The XAS analysis was undertaken on the XAS beamline at the Australian Synchrotron, part of ANSTO (Project Reference No: AS191/XAS/14392 ), as well as 01C1, 17C1 and 20A1 beamline in National Synchrotron Radiation Research Centre (NSRRC), Taiwan. The authors also thank Dr Jin-Ming Chen in Beamline 20A1 and Dr Jyh-Fu Lee in beamline 17C1, NSRRC, Taiwan for technical support in XAS analysis. Dr Jeremy Wykes at XAS beamline of Australian synchrotron is also acknowledged for technical support in XAS analysis. NanoSIMS analysis was done at Center for Microscopy, Characterization and Analysis at University of Western Australia. The authors acknowledge staffs in Australian Microscopy & Microanalysis Research Facility at the Center for Microscopy and Microanalysis, The University of Queensland for assistance in XRD, XPS and BSE-SEM-EDS analysis. The Australian Center for Ecogenomics, the University of Queensland, Australia was acknowledged for Illumina sequencing analysis. Dr Elaine Wrightman in JKMRC, SMI, UQ has been acknowledged for support in MLA analysis. We also thank Dr Shuncai Wang and Jingfang Xue for help on the plant cultivation, maintenance, and harvest, as well as lab analysis. Funding Information: The work is financially supported by Australian Research Council Linkage Project (LP160100598), Karara Mining limited, and The Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority (BGPA). S. Wu also acknowledges the UQECR funding (613767). XFM mapping was undertaken on the XFM beamline at the Australian Synchrotron, part of ANSTO (AS182/XFM/13331). The XAS analysis was undertaken on the XAS beamline at the Australian Synchrotron, part of ANSTO (Project Reference No: AS191/XAS/14392), as well as 01C1, 17C1 and 20A1 beamline in National Synchrotron Radiation Research Centre (NSRRC), Taiwan. The authors also thank Dr Jin-Ming Chen in Beamline 20A1 and Dr Jyh-Fu Lee in beamline 17C1, NSRRC, Taiwan for technical support in XAS analysis. Dr Jeremy Wykes at XAS beamline of Australian synchrotron is also acknowledged for technical support in XAS analysis. NanoSIMS analysis was done at Center for Microscopy, Characterization and Analysis at University of Western Australia. The authors acknowledge staffs in Australian Microscopy & Microanalysis Research Facility at the Center for Microscopy and Microanalysis, The University of Queensland for assistance in XRD, XPS and BSE-SEM-EDS analysis. The Australian Center for Ecogenomics, the University of Queensland, Australia was acknowledged for Illumina sequencing analysis. Dr Elaine Wrightman in JKMRC, SMI, UQ has been acknowledged for support in MLA analysis. We also thank Dr Shuncai Wang and Jingfang Xue for help on the plant cultivation, maintenance, and harvest, as well as lab analysis. S.W.: Conceptualization, Experimental design and conduction, Methodology, Data analysis, Writing-original draft, and review & editing; Y.L.: Methodology (Plant harvest, XFM analysis); Z.L. L.R. and Q.Y.: Methodology (Plant harvest, wet sieving); F.Y.: Methodology (Microbial community analysis); J.J.B.: Methodology (NanoSIMS analysis); D.P.: Methodology (XFM analysis); S.C.H.: Methodology (C 1s NEXAFS analysis); T.S.C. and Y.R.L.: Methodology (Fe K edge XAFS analysis); M.H. and N. S.: Methodology (ICP-OES analysis); G.S. K.K. T.N. and Y.S.O.: Writing-review & editing; L.H.: Conceptualization, Experimental design, Project administration, Funding acquisition, Writing-review & editing. The authors declare no competing interests. We support inclusive, diverse, and equitable conduct of research. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2023 The Author(s)",

year = "2023",

month = jul,

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

language = "English",

volume = "26",

journal = "iScience",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Ecological engineering of iron ore tailings into useable soils for sustainable rehabilitation

AU - Wu, Songlin

AU - Liu, Yunjia

AU - Southam, Gordon

AU - Nguyen, Tuan A.H.

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

N1 - Funding Information: The work is financially supported by Australian Research Council Linkage Project ( LP160100598 ), Karara Mining limited , and The Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority (BGPA). S. Wu also acknowledges the UQECR funding ( 613767 ). XFM mapping was undertaken on the XFM beamline at the Australian Synchrotron, part of ANSTO ( AS182/XFM/13331 ). The XAS analysis was undertaken on the XAS beamline at the Australian Synchrotron, part of ANSTO (Project Reference No: AS191/XAS/14392 ), as well as 01C1, 17C1 and 20A1 beamline in National Synchrotron Radiation Research Centre (NSRRC), Taiwan. The authors also thank Dr Jin-Ming Chen in Beamline 20A1 and Dr Jyh-Fu Lee in beamline 17C1, NSRRC, Taiwan for technical support in XAS analysis. Dr Jeremy Wykes at XAS beamline of Australian synchrotron is also acknowledged for technical support in XAS analysis. NanoSIMS analysis was done at Center for Microscopy, Characterization and Analysis at University of Western Australia. The authors acknowledge staffs in Australian Microscopy & Microanalysis Research Facility at the Center for Microscopy and Microanalysis, The University of Queensland for assistance in XRD, XPS and BSE-SEM-EDS analysis. The Australian Center for Ecogenomics, the University of Queensland, Australia was acknowledged for Illumina sequencing analysis. Dr Elaine Wrightman in JKMRC, SMI, UQ has been acknowledged for support in MLA analysis. We also thank Dr Shuncai Wang and Jingfang Xue for help on the plant cultivation, maintenance, and harvest, as well as lab analysis. Funding Information: The work is financially supported by Australian Research Council Linkage Project (LP160100598), Karara Mining limited, and The Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority (BGPA). S. Wu also acknowledges the UQECR funding (613767). XFM mapping was undertaken on the XFM beamline at the Australian Synchrotron, part of ANSTO (AS182/XFM/13331). The XAS analysis was undertaken on the XAS beamline at the Australian Synchrotron, part of ANSTO (Project Reference No: AS191/XAS/14392), as well as 01C1, 17C1 and 20A1 beamline in National Synchrotron Radiation Research Centre (NSRRC), Taiwan. The authors also thank Dr Jin-Ming Chen in Beamline 20A1 and Dr Jyh-Fu Lee in beamline 17C1, NSRRC, Taiwan for technical support in XAS analysis. Dr Jeremy Wykes at XAS beamline of Australian synchrotron is also acknowledged for technical support in XAS analysis. NanoSIMS analysis was done at Center for Microscopy, Characterization and Analysis at University of Western Australia. The authors acknowledge staffs in Australian Microscopy & Microanalysis Research Facility at the Center for Microscopy and Microanalysis, The University of Queensland for assistance in XRD, XPS and BSE-SEM-EDS analysis. The Australian Center for Ecogenomics, the University of Queensland, Australia was acknowledged for Illumina sequencing analysis. Dr Elaine Wrightman in JKMRC, SMI, UQ has been acknowledged for support in MLA analysis. We also thank Dr Shuncai Wang and Jingfang Xue for help on the plant cultivation, maintenance, and harvest, as well as lab analysis. S.W.: Conceptualization, Experimental design and conduction, Methodology, Data analysis, Writing-original draft, and review & editing; Y.L.: Methodology (Plant harvest, XFM analysis); Z.L. L.R. and Q.Y.: Methodology (Plant harvest, wet sieving); F.Y.: Methodology (Microbial community analysis); J.J.B.: Methodology (NanoSIMS analysis); D.P.: Methodology (XFM analysis); S.C.H.: Methodology (C 1s NEXAFS analysis); T.S.C. and Y.R.L.: Methodology (Fe K edge XAFS analysis); M.H. and N. S.: Methodology (ICP-OES analysis); G.S. K.K. T.N. and Y.S.O.: Writing-review & editing; L.H.: Conceptualization, Experimental design, Project administration, Funding acquisition, Writing-review & editing. The authors declare no competing interests. We support inclusive, diverse, and equitable conduct of research. Publisher Copyright: © 2023 The Author(s)

PY - 2023/7/21

Y1 - 2023/7/21

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.

KW - Environmental geochemistry

KW - Environmental management

KW - Soil

KW - Soil chemistry

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85165958706&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107102

DO - 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107102

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85165958706

SN - 2589-0042

VL - 26

JO - iScience

JF - iScience

IS - 7

M1 - 107102

ER -

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

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

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UN SDGs

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