What is bioleaching and how does it work to extract metal compounds?

Bioleaching is a process that uses bacteria to extract metal compounds from ores. The bacteria feed on the metal-containing minerals, producing leachate solutions that contain dissolved metals, which can then be recovered.

A strong answer should directly address the approved learning objective to describe bioleaching as using bacteria to produce leachate solutions containing metal compounds. (HT only). This question belongs to Alternative methods of extracting metals within Using the Earth's resources and obtaining potable water, so the response should use that exact curriculum context rather than a generic statement. The answer is correct when it names the key idea, explains the link to HT only, and keeps the wording specific to AQA GCSE revision.