 Using "Bacteria" such as "Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans" to leach copper from mine tailings has improved recovery rates and reduced operating costs.Moreover, it permits extraction from low grade ores - an important consideration in the face of the depletion of high grade ores.Some examples of past projects in biotechnology include a biologically assisted in situ mining program, biodegradation methods, passive bioremediation of acid rock drainage, and bioleaching of ores and concentrates.