Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Auger electron spectroscopy (AE
S) were used to follow the surface changes occurring in galena when th
e bioleaching medium contained Ag(I), Hg(II) and Bi(III) ions. The res
ults showed that the catalyst ions Ag(I), Hg(II) and Bi(III) are incor
porated into the surface irrespectively of the presence of bacteria, a
nd different reactions take place on the surface of galena depending o
n the cation added to the leaching medium. When the bioleaching proces
s takes place without catalyst or with Bi(III) the galena is transform
ed into PbSO4 and the growth of oxidation products is characterized by
needles. Ag(I) and Hg(II) ions form a layer on the galena surface, wh
ich prevents the transformation of such surface into PbSO4. The layer
formed in this process can be like a silver sulphide and a mercury sul
phide depending on the ion species. Microorganisms oxidize the surface
sulphur of this layer and thus decrease the S/Ag and S/Hg ratios at t
he surface.