An Australian-Canadian research team has developed a method to transform mine waste, known as “tailings,” into fertile soil suitable for growing crops like maize and sorghum.
Typically, tailings are laden with toxic heavy metals and are stored to prevent environmental contamination. Converting this lifeless waste into arable soil could save billions in storage costs and mitigate the risks of storage facility failures. The researchers used a synchrotron particle accelerator called the Canadian Light Source to accelerate reintroducing soil microbes to the tailings, making them suitable for plant growth.
This innovative technique may offer a sustainable solution for mine waste and help restore damaged soils affected by over-farming and climate change.