Alexander Tsado and Robin Miller
December 3, 2025
This start-up rescues metals from mining waste
Tersa Earth employs a cutting-edge biotech approach. It puts ‘microbial fuel cells’ into mine tailings which are the waste materials left over after mining. These microbial fuel cells contain micro-organisms which generate electricity. The current causes metals dissolved in the tailings to become solid deposits, enabling the recovery of minerals and metals such as copper, gold and iron.
Tersa Earth is changing the mining industry with its innovative biotech approach to recover valuable metals and minerals from mining waste. The process focuses on mine tailings—the leftover materials after mining—to extract critical elements like copper, gold, and iron while minimizing environmental harm.
Tersa Earth’s groundbreaking work earned it a win in UpLink's Sustainable Mining Challenge, highlighting its potential to transform mining practices and secure critical minerals essential for the global energy transition.
Watch the video to know how Tersa Earth is reshaping the future of mining with sustainable and cutting-edge solutions.
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