It turns out DNA testing is not just for crime shows.

Anglo American is harnessing cutting-edge DNA technology for a different kind of investigation, one that marks a new era in ecological monitoring and mine rehabilitation.

Using environmental DNA, also known as eDNA, teams have been collecting microscopic traces of genetic material left behind by plants, animals, bacteria and fungi in soil and water samples across our five steelmaking coal mine sites in the Bowen Basin.

In the newest toolkit addition, environment teams are also now collecting DNA from the air using easy-to-deploy sample collection kits.

The sampling uses the same science from forensic investigations to track native species living in or passing through rehabilitated mining land as well as mining offset areas.

Environmental manager Jason Fittler said the technology was helping his team better understand how biodiversity was returning to formerly mined areas.

He said environmental specialists were taking about 30 samples at a time on each mine site alongside traditional fauna and flora monitoring completed annually.

“Every plant, animal or insect leaves behind tiny fragments of DNA in water, soil or air,” Mr Fittler said.

“By analysing those samples, we can build a detailed picture of what species are living in or moving through our rehabilitated sites.

“At one site, we detected four species of fish, 13 species of birds and three mammals — all in a single sample without having to physically see them.

“This method complements our traditional monitoring as we can detect a different range of plants and animals through DNA. 

“It’s a non-invasive, efficient and highly accurate way to measure environmental recovery.”

The samples are analysed in laboratories where results are matched using national and international genetic databases to confirm species presence and help track biodiversity trends over time.

EnviroDNA principal scientist Dr Luke Noble said eDNA allowed access to a broad slice of biodiversity – plants, fungi and animals – across marine, freshwater and terrestrial environments.

He said soil was the most common sample type he had processed for Anglo American in the context of mine rehabilitation.

“These generate thousands and thousands of biological indicators to track the restoration process, the condition of the soil and the condition of the broader ecosystem as it transitions back to a more natural state,” he said.

“Environmental DNA is pretty much everywhere you look – you just need a method to concentrate it or access it in useful ways.

“DNA is unlike other technologies because its power comes from being an indirect detection method. It tells you what has been at or near the site you sampled.

“By building up a picture of detections through time, we can have much more confidence about what we’re seeing.

“Air eDNA, which is in the research and development phase, is a super exciting new development. It has the potential to do for terrestrial environments what eDNA has already done for aquatic ecosystems.”

Mr Fittler said conventional ecological monitoring sometimes failed to record individual species if they were not observed during the survey period.

“This approach not only reduces the need for disruptive monitoring techniques but also gives us richer insights into how ecosystems are recovering,” he said.

“Through DNA sampling, we can detect plants and animals from microscopic skin flakes, a strand of fur, a feather fragment or even a microscopic piece of faeces. 

“We gather this DNA through soil and water sampling but we can now also collect DNA through particles passing through the air using a suspended filter, similar to a Chux cleaning cloth in appearance.

“When we set these up, we can detect gliders, koalas, bats, dogs, cows; just about anything that comes near the cloth.

“This innovation is helping us deliver world-class environmental outcomes in our land rehabilitation journey.”

Mr Fittler said one of the most exciting findings so far was the discovery of fish in water ponds created above underground mine subsidence rehabilitation areas.

“While the how remains a mystery, finding fish in the ponds we have created on subsided land shows just how incredible nature can be,” he said.

Anglo American’s rehabilitation areas have been progressively restored to native vegetation, with eDNA data providing independent verification of ecological progress.

“We’re using science to tell the story of nature’s comeback,” Mr Fittler said.

“These results show life is returning, and thriving, in the places we once mined.”

In Australia, Anglo American has five steelmaking coal mines in Queensland’s Bowen Basin, along with additional joint venture interests in steelmaking coal and manganese, and base metals exploration projects in Queensland.

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You can find photos and vision HERE.