Document Type

Honors Thesis

Publication Date

Spring 5-6-2026

Abstract

Standard mining practices of the past have left valuable, critical minerals remaining within mine waste and tailings piles. Phytoremediation, or the use of plants to uptake and store heavy metals, has grown in popularity for these sites. A new technology, phytomining, is being developed that not only offers the benefits of phytoremediation but also allows a new pathway to extract and generate revenue from these untouched critical minerals. Certain plants have been identified as hyperaccumulators with the ability to bioaccumulate a high level of certain minerals in their plant tissue. This study explored different species of native plants within the Rocky Mountain region to examine and test their hyperaccumulation capabilities. Mature field sampling and controlled greenhouse testing in the Orphan Boy Mine on Montana Technological University’s campus using local mine waste soil and mine water have garnered results to suggest many of the plants selected for this study show tolerance and/or hyperaccumulation of the critical minerals zinc and manganese. Native plant species that surpassed zinc hyperaccumulation thresholds included B. holboellii, L. lewisii, L. cinereus, and E. californica while P. hastata, B. holboellii, and E. californica showed active uptake of zinc or manganese rather than passive intake with a bioaccumulation factor of greater than one. Other parameters were used to assess phytomining feasibility of the plant species including growth success and biomass production.

Download

Share

COinS