Consortia of biomining microorganisms catalyze metal sulfide dissolution for extraction and recovery of metals such as gold and copper by regenerating the ferric iron oxidant along with metabolizing the resultant elemental and reduced inorganic sulfur compounds. These microorganisms are from the Bacteria and Archaea domains with the Bacteria having generally lower growth temperatures while the Archaea comprise mostly moderate and extreme thermophilic species. All microorganisms used in current biomining operations are able to grow at acidic pH values along with metal tolerance systems that allow them to survive the multiple extreme conditions in leaching liquors. The bacterial and archaeal ferrous iron oxidation systems differ while their reduced inorganic sulfur compound metabolisms contain enzyme pathways that are similar but not identical between the two domains. In addition, dissolution of non-sulfidic ores such as oxyhydroxide minerals, and electronic wastes, can also be mediated via biogenic acidolysis and complexation or by microbial Fe-reducing activity. Recent advances in “omics” technologies have aided in identifying new acidophilic biomining species and future studies will continue to elucidate their modus operandi to aid in increasing rates of mineral dissolution.