Bioshale FP6 European project: Exploiting black shale ores using biotechnologies?

The Bioshale project, co-funded by the European Commission under the FP6 program, commenced in October 2004 with the primary objective of developing innovative biotechnological processes for the environmentally conscious exploitation of black shale ores. The project focuses on three key black shale deposits, which include a natural deposit in Talvivaara, Finland, a currently processed deposit in Lubin, Poland, and a post-mining site in Mansfeld, Germany. Given the rich content of base, precious, and rare metals, as well as high organic matter in these ores, traditional recovery techniques often fall short. Therefore, the methodological framework encompasses the evaluation of geological resources, selection of metal-bearing materials, and the testing of appropriate biological consortia for mineral processing. Furthermore, the project aims to assess hydrometallurgical methods, particularly bioprocessing, to enhance metal recovery efficiency. A comprehensive technical-economic evaluation of the proposed processes incorporates social and environmental impacts. This document outlines the ongoing results and collaboration efforts from the 13 European partners involved in the initiative.