BIOcementation with GEotextiles for Mine-tailing Stabilization (BIOGEMS)

Concerns about the geohazards and environmental and health impacts of contaminated mine tailings (soil and rock fragments remaining after mineral extraction) drive the urgent need for their safe storage and the sustainable restoration of tailings storage sites after mining operations cease. With a projected 35% increase in size of active tailings storage facilities, stretching them beyond their original design, failures are expected to increase, exacerbated by climate change.To address these pressing needs, BIOGEMS aims to develop an innovative, efficient, and bio-compatible technique for mine tailings (MT) management and restoration, addressing limitations of current practices while integrating their strengths. BIOGEMS replaces CO2-emitting Portland Cement and lime with biocements produced via the natural process of biomineralisation. These biocements will stabilise MT and encapsulate/immobilise contaminants, reducing their bioavailability to enable ecological restoration. This biocementation process will be combined with biodegradable, natural fibre-based geosynthetics (biogeotextiles), which can further reinforce MT while acting as bacterial carriers for spatially targeted, durable biocementation treatment. A key focus is harnessing native microorganisms to ensure ecosystem compatibility.Laboratory and field trials will evaluate the ability of the proposed systems to induce uniform biocementation, immobilise contaminants within mineral matrices, to support post-closure tailings restoration and reclamation.Following laboratory development, the proposed systems will be field-tested in Zambia to assess real-world effectiveness, cost feasibility, and environmental sustainability, advancing toward industry adoption. The techniques are transferable to Europe and other mineral-rich regions worldwide.