FUTURE METALS

Future Metals is an ongoing investigation into the technological and contextual potential of bio-mining to uncover a new source of precious metals for jewellery.

Bio-mining can utilise a range of bio-technologies and organisms such as bacteria, mycelium, volcanoes, algae, e-waste, mine tailings, lake brines and plants to extract metals. The project focuses on special plant species that can have the ability to suck up metal through their roots. The bio-sourced metals have been phytomined from contaminated and polluted soils.

The regenerative bio-metals used in the project come from a collaboration with biologists and bio-tech start-ups. Phyona is based in the UK, and can use native plant species to collect and upcycle metals from polluted soils. This is taking place in the north of England at the Barnsley Main Heritage site.

The second collaboration is with the Econik based in France. They developed a non-extractive, agro-mining method which uses the sun to mine metals. The bio-nickel in this body of work comes from hyperaccumulator plants called Assylum Murale.

This multi-disciplinary project explores the cultural and historical contexts of these bio-innovations to uncover a new understanding of how we should view metals for a more regenerative future. Metals should be seen as living bodies that can help remediate polluted local environments whilst providing a new source of materials for jewellery, crafts and beyond.

The project will continue to explore the potential of these biotechnologies through making, collaboration and research.

Please get in touch if you would like to collaborate or learn more.

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