ORE-BREAKER COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS FOR BIOLOGICAL ENRICHMENT OF METALS

Abstract

Isolated modified Bacillus oredergradus, Bacillus humilyticus, Bacillus metallicyclus, Bacillus chrysorecoverus, Bacillus sulfoassimulus, Bacillus sulfocyclus, Bacillus decompolyticus, Bacillus silicadegradus strains deposited at the Agricultural Research Service Culture Collection under the Accession numbers NRRL No. B-68391, B-68392, B-68393, B-68394, B-68395, B-68396, B-68397, and B-68398 according to the Budapest Treaty. Compositions comprising one or more isolated modified bacterial strains according to the Budapest Treaty. The disclosed newly discovered bacterial strains are useful in gold, silver, and platinum group metal enrichment in ores. In particular, the present disclosure is directed to novel microorganisms useful to enrich these metals in substrates that they are cultured in. Methods of using the novel microorganisms to enrich metals in their ores without reducing pH below 7, and without heating.

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