ABSTRACT

Microbial Ecology Laboratory, Department of Botany, North Eastern Hill University, Shillong, India.

* Corresponding author: hkayang@yahoo.com

Mine drainage is one of the main problems associated with coal mining activities that results in the accumulation of toxic elements in the environment. Consequently, these sites become inhospitable for most of the life forms, except for those microorganisms that are able to tolerate the acidity and the high concentration of heavy metals (Castro-Silva et al., 2003). However, archaea, bacteria, fungi, algae and protozoa have been isolated from mining areas, and have been shown to be active at these sites (Johnson, 1991).