Characterisation of bacterial communities from an active mining site and assessment of its potential metal solubilising activity

•Bacterial communities were recovered from sulphide ore from an active mine.•Feed, tailings and paste samples were collected at three independent times.•Neutrophile sulphur-oxidising chemolithoautotrophs were the most abundant.•Mixotrophs and facultative lithoheterotrophs/organoheterotrophs were also present.•Tailings’ bacterial community solubilised different noxious metal(loid)s.