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Javier Sánchez-España, Ph.D.


Department of Natural Sciences
Earth Science and Oceanography

Education

Ph.D. in Geology (Geochemistry), 2000, Basque Country University, Spain.
B.Sc. in Geology (Field and Applied Geology), 1995, Basque Country University, Spain.

Practice Areas

  • Hydro- and bio-geochemistry of low-temperature aqueous solutions.
  • Geochemical modelling of water-rock and water-mineral interactions.
  • Environmental mineralogy: identification and characterization of nano-crystalline minerals by high-resolution techniques (SEM, TEM, S/TEM, EELS, XAS).
  • Biomineralization and microbial controls on trace metal transport in acidic mine waters.
  • Geomicrobiology and biogeochemical cycling (S, Fe, C, N) in extreme environments.
  • Limnophysics and limnochemistry of acidic pit lakes and high mountain lakes.

Publications and Media Placements

New publications

Liu, Y., Brennan, R.A., Sánchez-España, J., Vilchez, C., Fuentes, J., Macalady, J.L., Burgos, W.D. (2026). High-density biomass as a substrate for stimulating biosulfidogenesis in the deep layer of stratified acidic pit lakes. Appl Environ Microbiol 0:e02369-25. https://doi.org/10.1128/aem.02369-25

M. Ilin, A., Yusta, I., Ilyn, M. et al. Novel pathway of chalcopyrite formation at low temperature in microenvironments of acidic, metal-rich sediments. Commun Earth Environ 6, 939 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02872-3 

Sánchez-España, J., Falagán, C., Ilin, A.M., Yusta, I. Mineral Sources and Vertical Distribution of Nutrients in Extremely Acidic Pit Lakes: Impact on Microbial Ecology. Minerals 2025, 15, 1223. https://doi.org/10.3390/min15111223

Sánchez-España, J. (2025). From Volcanic Craters to Mine Pits: The Microbial Ecology of Extremophiles Inhabiting the Most Acidic Lakes in the World. Geomicrobiology Journal, 42(8), 633–650. https://doi.org/10.1080/01490451.2025.2508731

Mario Morellón, César Morales-Molino, Juana Vegas, Alejandra Vicente de Vera, Sergi Plà-Rabes, Maria Leunda, Javier Sánchez-España, Juan Antonio Rodríguez, Xabier Arroyo, María Pilar Mata (2025) Reconstructing the environmental impact of mining on mountain lakes. Science of The Total Environment, 961, 2025, 178382, ISSN 0048-9697.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.178382.

Liu Y., Macalady J.L., Sánchez-España J. and Burgos W.D. (2024) Enrichment of acid-tolerant sulfide-producing microbes from an acidic pit lake. Front. Microbiol. 15:1475137. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2024.1475137

Van der Graaf, C.M., Sánchez-España, J., Ilin, A.M. et al. Micrometric pyrite catalyzes abiotic sulfidogenesis from elemental sulfur and hydrogen. Sci Rep 14, 17702 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-66006-z

Sánchez-España, J., Falagán, C., Meier, J. (2024). Aluminum Biorecovery from Wastewaters. In: Hedrich, S., Wiche, O. (eds) Biological Metal Recovery from Wastewaters. Advances in Biochemical Engineering/Biotechnology, vol 190. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/10_2024_256

Y. Li, B.R. Sutherland, A.M. Ilin, M. Schad, L.J. Robbins, A. Kappler, I. Yusta, J. Sánchez-España, G.W. Owttrim, C.L. Dreher, A.J.B. Smith, D.S. Alessi, M.K. Gingras, K.O. Konhauser (2024) Cyanobacteria-ferrihydrite aggregates, BIF sedimentation and implications for Archaean- Palaeoproterozoic seawater geochemistry. South African Journal of Geology 127 (2): 359–378. https://doi.org/10.25131/sajg.127.0010

Sánchez-España, J. (2024). The Geomicrobiology of Acidic Pit Lakes. In: Staicu, L.C., Barton, L.L. (eds) Geomicrobiology: Natural and Anthropogenic Settings. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-54306-7_6

Sánchez-España, J.; Castillo, A.M.N.; Mata, M.P.; Martínez-Martínez, J.; Mediato, J.F. (2024) Fluorite and Gibbsite Solubility Controls the Vertical Transport of Fluoride and Aluminum during Rainwater Percolation through Ashfall Deposits in La Palma (Canary Islands, Spain). Minerals 14, 338. https://doi.org/10.3390/min14040338 

J. Sánchez-España, M. Pilar Mata, J. Vegas, G. Lozano, J. Mediato, J. Martínez Martínez, I. Galindo, N. Sánchez, B. del Moral, B. Ordóñez, A. de Vergara, A. Nieto, M. Andrés, I. Vázquez, E. Bellido, M. Castillo-Carrión (2023) Leaching tests reveal fast aluminum fluoride release from ashfall accumulated in La Palma (Canary Islands, Spain) after the 2021 Tajogaite eruption. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, 444, 107959, ISSN 0377-0273, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2023.107959.

Sánchez-España, J., Yusta, I., Ilin, A., van der Graaf, C., Sánchez-Andrea, I., Falagán, C., Ayala-Muñoz, D., Macalady, J. and Burgos, W.D. (2023) Acidic pit lakes: hot spots of extremophile microbiology and geomicrobial interactions with a high astrobiological interest. In Proceedings of EANA Conference (p. 197). Madrid, Spain.

Sánchez-España, J. (2023) Geochemical, limnological and microbiological characteristics of acidic pit lakes and their comparison with volcanic lakes. Proceedings of the 11th Workshop on Volcanic Lakes (Ponta Delgada, Sao Miguel, Azores, Portugal), 

Sánchez-España, J.; Ilin, A.M.; Yusta, I.; van der Graaf, C.M.; Sánchez-Andrea, I. (2023) Fe(III) Biomineralization in the Surface Microlayer of Acid Mine Waters Catalyzed by Neustonic Fe(II)-Oxidizing Microorganisms. Minerals 2023, 13, 508. https://doi.org/10.3390/min13040508.

Rosario-Beltré A., Sánchez-España J., Rodríguez-Gómez V., Fernández-Naranjo FJ, Bellido-Martín E, Adánez-Sanjuán P, Arranz-González JC (2023) Critical Raw Materials recovery potential from Spanish mine wastes: A national-scale preliminary assessment. Journal of Cleaner Production, Volume 407, 2023, 137163, ISSN 0959-6526, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2023.137163.

Most recent papers in peer-reviewed journals (2017-2022)

Ayala-Muñoz, D., Macalady, J.L., Sánchez-España, J., Couradeau, E., Burgos, W.D. (2022) Microbial carbon, sulfur, iron, and nitrogen cycling linked to the potential remediation of a meromictic acidic pit lake. The ISME Journal, 16(12), pp. 2666–2679, DOI: 10.1038/s41396-022-01320-w.

Valdez-Nuñez, L.F.; Ayala-Muñoz, D.; Sánchez-España, J.; Sánchez-Andrea, I. (2022) Microbial Communities in Peruvian Acid Mine Drainages: Low-Abundance Sulfate-Reducing Bacteria With High Metabolic Activity. Geomicrobiology Journal, 39(10), pp. 867–883, DOI: 10.1080/01490451.2022.2087808.

Florentino, A.P., Sánchez-España, J., Sánchez-Andrea, I. (2022) Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 10, 1025093, DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.1025093.

Ilin, A.M.; van der Graaf, C.M.; Yusta, I.; Sánchez-Andrea, I.; Sánchez-España, J. (2022) Glycerol amendment enhances biosulfidogenesis in acid mine drainage-affected areas: An incubation column experiment. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 10, 978728 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.978728, ISSN: 2296-4185.

Ayala-Muñoz, D.; Burgos, W.D.; Sánchez-España, J.; Couradeau, E.; Macalady, J.L. (2022) Novel Microorganisms Contribute to Biosulfidogenesis in the Deep Layer of an Acidic Pit Lake. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 10, 867321, DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.867321, ISSN: 2296-4185.

Sánchez-España, J.; Illin, A.; Yusta, I. (2022) Metallic Copper (Cu[0]) Obtained from Cu2+-Rich Acidic Mine Waters by Two Different Reduction Methods: Crystallographic and Geochemical Aspects. Minerals 12(3), 322, DOI: 10.3390/min12030322.

Sánchez-España, J.; Yusta, I.; Ilin, A.; van der Graaf, C.; Sánchez-Andrea, I. (2020) Microbial Geochemistry of the Acidic Saline Pit Lake of Brunita Mine (La Unión, SE Spain). Mine Water and the Environment 39(3), pp. 535–555, DOI: 10.1007/s10230-020-00655-0.

Sánchez-España, J.; Yusta, I.; Boehrer, B. (2020) Degassing Pit Lakes: Technical Issues and Lessons Learnt from the HERCO2 Project in the Guadiana Open Pit (Herrerías Mine, SW Spain). Mine Water and the Environment 39(3), pp. 517–534, DOI: 10.1007/s10230-020-00654-1.

Ayala-Muñoz, D.; Burgos, W.D.; Sánchez-España, J.; Falagán, C.; Macalady, J.L. (2020) Metagenomic and Metatranscriptomic Study of Microbial Metal Resistance in an Acidic Pit Lake. Microorganisms, 8(9), pp. 1–271350, 1350, DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8091350.

van der Graaf, C.M.; Sánchez-España, J.; Yusta, I.; Stams, A.J.M.; Sánchez-Andrea, I. (2020) Biosulfidogenesis Mediates Natural Attenuation in Acidic Mine Pit Lakes. Microorganisms, 8(9), pp. 1–26, 1275 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8091275, ISSN: 2076-2607.

Sánchez-España, J.; Falagán, C.; Ayala, C.; Wendt-Potthoff, K. (2020) Adaptation of Coccomyxa sp. to Extremely Low Light Conditions Causes Deep Chlorophyll and Oxygen Maxima in Acidic Pit Lakes. Microorganisms (2020), 8(8), 1218, DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8081218.

Sánchez-España, J.; Vegas, J.; Morellon, M.; Mata, M.P.; García, J.A.R. (2019) Hydrogeochemical characteristics of the Saliencia lakes (Somiedo Natural Park, NW Spain): Trophic state and relationship with anthropogenic pressures. Boletín Geológico y Minero 130 (2): 251-269, DOI: 10.21701/bolgeomin.130.2.003.

Sánchez-España, J.; Yusta, I. (2019) Coprecipitation of Co2+, Ni2+ and Zn2+ with Mn(III/IV) Oxides Formed in Metal-Rich Mine Waters. Minerals 9(4), 226, DOI: 10.3390/min9040226, ISSN: 2075-163X.

Diez-Ercilla, M.; Falagán, C.; Yusta, I.; Sánchez-España, J. (2019) Metal mobility and mineral transformations driven by bacterial activity in acidic pit lake sediments: evidence from column experiments and sequential extraction. Journal of Soils and Sediments 19, p. 1527–1542, DOI: 10.1007/s11368-018-2112-2.

Sánchez-España, J; Reyes, J. (2019) Comparing Schwertmannite and Hydrobasaluminite Dissolution in Ammonium Oxalate (pH 3.0): Implications for Metal Speciation Studies by Sequential Extraction. Minerals 9(1), 57, DOI: 10.3390/min9010057.

Sánchez-España, J.; Wang, K.; Falagán, C.; Yusta, I.; Burgos, W.D. (2018) Microbially mediated aluminosilicate formation in acidic anaerobic environments: A cell-scale chemical perspective. Geobiology 16-1, 88-103, DOI: 10.1111/gbi.12269.

Sánchez-España, J.; Mata, M.P.; Vegas, J.; Morellón, M.; Rodriguez, J.A.; Salazar, A.; Yusta, I. (2018) Limnochemistry of the remote, high mountain lake marboré (ordesa and monte perdido national park, central pyrenees): Stratification dynamics and trace metal anomalies. Limnetica 37 (1): 85-103, DOI: 10.23818/limn.37.08EID: 2-s2.0-85049134947, ISSN: 19891806 02138409.

Sánchez-España, J.; Mata, M.P.; Vegas, J.; Morellón, M.; Rodríguez, J.A.; Salazar, Á.; Yusta, I.; Chaos, A.; Pérez-Martínez, C.; Navas, A. (2017) Anthropogenic and climatic factors enhancing hypolimnetic anoxia in a temperate mountain lake. Journal of Hydrology 555, 832-850, DOI: 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2017.10.049, ISSN: 00221694.

Falagán, C.; Yusta, I.; Sánchez-España, J.; Johnson, D.B. (2017) Biologically-induced precipitation of aluminium in synthetic acid mine water. Minerals Engineering 106, 79-85, DOI: 10.1016/j.mineng.2016.09.028, ISSN: 08926875.

Selected books or book chapters (2017-2022)

Florentino, A.P.; Sánchez-España, J.; Sánchez-Andrea, I. (2022) Advances in biosulfidogenic processes (Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, Special Volume and e-book), (6 chapters), Editor: Frontiers (Lausanne, Switzerland). https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/23096/advances-in-biosulfidogenic-processes

Sánchez-España, J.; Yusta, I.; Boehrer, B. (2021) Monitorización y análisis de la desgasificación del lago de la Corta Guadiana (Minas de Herrerías, Huelva). Serie Informes Técnicos del IGME, Vol. Nº 13, Editor: Instituto Geológico y Minero de España (Madrid). https://digital.csic.es/handle/10261/273197

Sánchez-España, J. (2021) Lagos Asesinos: Todo lo que debes saber sobre uno de los fenómenos naturales más enigmáticos del planeta, Editor: Los Libros de la Catarata (Serie Planeta Tierra), Madrid, 136 pp., ISBN: 978-84-1352-195-4. https://www.catarata.org/libro/lagos-asesinos_118871/

Mata, P.; Sánchez-España, J.; Vegas, J.; Rodríguez, J.A.; Morellón, M.; Salazar, A.; Navas, A.; López-Vicente, M.; Valero, B. (2017) Evaluación y seguimiento del cambio global en tres lagos de alta montaña de parques nacionales (Enol, Marboré y La Caldera): Indicadores físico-químicos (CLAM). En Amengual, P. (Ed.) "Proyectos de investigación en Parques Nacionales: 2012-2015. Naturaleza y Parques Nacionales. Serie Investigaciones en la Red", p. 287-306, Editor: OAPN-MAPAMA, Madrid. ISBN: 978-84-8014-907-5. https://digital.csic.es/handle/10261/277673

Schultze, M., Boehrer, B., Wendt-Potthoff, K., Sánchez-España, J., Castendyk, D. (2017) Meromictic pit lakes: Case studies from Spain, Germany and Canada and General aspects of management and modelling. In Gulati, R., Zadereev, E. & Degermendzhi, A. (Eds.), Ecology of Meromictic Lakes, Ecological Studies 228, Chapter 9, pp. 235-275, Editor: Springer, Heidelberg (Amsterdam, The Netherlands). ISBN: 978-3-319-49143-1. https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-49143-1_9