In recent years, application of biotechnologies in enrichment processes and processing of metal-containing ores has gained broad development, considering essential advantages of these technologies from the point of view of economic efficiency and ecological safety. Processes with the application the hemolitotrofnykh of acidophile microorganisms of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, At. thiooxidans, Leptospirillum ferrooxidans and others, are of great interest. This article is devoted to the problem of biocultures application for efficiency improvement of the ore pretreatment technology and extraction of valuable components from metal-containing crude ore. The analysis of the biotechnologies and microorganisms applied at domestic and foreign enterprises is given, alongside with the theoretical bases of ore bioprocessing, research results of oxide and sulphidic metal-containing ores processing technology development, with the application of microorganisms and research results of the mechanism of destructive impact of a certain type bacteria on siliceous ores.
