Nature’s Oldest Miners: How Tiny Microbes Solve Big Extraction Challenges | On the Rocks Masterclass
Tue Jul 01 2025
What if the solution to the global copper shortage has been right under our noses for billions of years? In this episode of On the Rocks Masterclass, we explore the fascinating world of biomining with Liz Dennett, Founder & CEO of Endolith, who's harnessing Earth's oldest miners – microbes – to revolutionize copper extraction.
Liz's journey from NASA astrobiology research to founding a biotech mining company is as unique as her approach to solving one of mining's biggest challenges. With copper demand soaring for electrification and renewables, traditional mining methods are struggling to keep up. Enter biological intelligence: AI-optimized microbes that can extract more copper from low-grade ore than conventional methods ever could.
In this masterclass, Liz breaks down the science behind biomining, explains how AI fine-tunes microbial performance in real-time, and shares insights from pilot deployments with major mining companies like BHP and Rio Tinto. We explore how this approach works within existing heap leach infrastructure, requires no toxic chemicals, and could turn mining waste into valuable resource streams.
Whether you're curious about the intersection of biology and mining, interested in sustainable extraction methods, or wondering how microbes could solve supply chain challenges, this conversation offers a glimpse into mining's microscopic revolution.
More
What if the solution to the global copper shortage has been right under our noses for billions of years? In this episode of On the Rocks Masterclass, we explore the fascinating world of biomining with Liz Dennett, Founder & CEO of Endolith, who's harnessing Earth's oldest miners – microbes – to revolutionize copper extraction. Liz's journey from NASA astrobiology research to founding a biotech mining company is as unique as her approach to solving one of mining's biggest challenges. With copper demand soaring for electrification and renewables, traditional mining methods are struggling to keep up. Enter biological intelligence: AI-optimized microbes that can extract more copper from low-grade ore than conventional methods ever could. In this masterclass, Liz breaks down the science behind biomining, explains how AI fine-tunes microbial performance in real-time, and shares insights from pilot deployments with major mining companies like BHP and Rio Tinto. We explore how this approach works within existing heap leach infrastructure, requires no toxic chemicals, and could turn mining waste into valuable resource streams. Whether you're curious about the intersection of biology and mining, interested in sustainable extraction methods, or wondering how microbes could solve supply chain challenges, this conversation offers a glimpse into mining's microscopic revolution.