Some tolerant microorganisms were found to able to survive tailing environment by oxidizing pyrite [45, 46], generating acid and soluble iron.
The K+ and Fe3+ ions released from the biotite dissolution are further involved in the precipitation of jarosite that occurs in oxidized tailings in acidic environments [31, 32].
Microbially influenced transformations of Mn which have been previously reported to take place in soils, sediments, mine tailings, and marine environments, also play an important role in driving geochemical cyclings of Mn [7 12].
Unmodified tailings generated an acidic environment in flooded conditions at which As-bearing FEPs were stable.
Creation of Technosols by use of different materials can be a sustainable strategy to reclaim mine tailings spread on the environment.
In contrast, biochar with highly stable carbon may help alleviate geochemical environment in the tailings.
Phytostabilization has been advocated as a promising approach to reduce mine tailings' adverse effects to surrounding environment.
Phytostabilization of mine tailings in arid and semiarid environments involves the use of drought-, sand-, and metal-tolerant plants for immobilization of heavy metals in the tailings substrate.
In this review we emphasize considerations for phytostabilization of mine tailings in arid and semiarid environments, as well as issues impeding its long-term success.
Phytostabilization of mine tailings in arid and semiarid environments requires establishing a diverse plant community by including drought-, metand, and salt-tolerant plants that do not hyperaccumulate metals of concern into shoot tissues.
Addition of inorganic fertilizers should be limited, as native vegetation used for phytostabilization of mine tailings in arid and semiarid environments tends to be adapted to low nutrients and tends to respond differently to fertilizer inputs (Piha et al. 1995).
