British Sign Language Glossaries of Curriculum Terms

BSL Environmental Science Glossary - Phyto mining definition

Definition: Metal ores (like Copper) are sometimes contained in rocks but in low concentrations and/or isolated pockets which means they are not worth excavating. However, they can still be extracted using a method called Phytomining. The area can be planted - plants absorb metals from the ground. Once grown these plants are then harvested and burnt - an industrial process can then be used to separate out the minerals from the ash.