Microorganisms have evolved over billions of years, developing processes that allow them to catalyse reactions, which are only energetically marginally favourable – a feat which modern day chemists and engineers can only try to replicate. This gives scientists the opportunity to look to the environment for solutions to industrial problems. We have the technology to upscale what the environment does and to apply it to industry, encompassing all of those billions of years of evolutionary refinement into simple, environmental friendly solutions, for seemingly complex problems. The mining industry has many opportunities to advance modern technologies by making use of the ability of microorganisms to oxidise and/or reduce metals. Bioleaching and biooxidation are two methods employed by the mining industry that use microorganisms to break down or dissolve ore, aiding in the extraction of the metal of interest. Technologies such as biosensors and bioindicators are also gaining some interest by the mining industry for the ability to detect very low concentrations of metals. Microorganisms are also used to assist in the remediation of mining sites. From finding a deposit, through to mining and finally remediation microorganisms play an important role in the mining industry and as our understanding of microorganisms expands so will our ability to use microorganisms across a range of industries.