[3] Tetraether-based lipids are an important part of the Ferroplasma cellular membrane and allow cells to maintain a pH gradient.

[7] Variations in the tetraether lipids of the family Ferroplasmaceae are used for chemotaxonomic identification at the genus and species level because many members possess identical 16S rRNA sequences.

[3] Members of the genus Ferroplasma are chemomixotrophs that can oxidize ferrous iron to acquire energy, but despite evidence of carbon fixation, lab cultures often require an organic carbon source such as yeast extract for growth.

[8] During this reaction ferrous iron, which can be utilized by Ferroplasma, is also regenerated leading to a "propagation cycle" where pH is lowered.

Ferroplasma species are often present at AMD sites where they participate in this cycle through the biotic oxidation of ferrous iron.

Microbial bioleaching occurs naturally in the highly acidic environments that are home to Ferroplasma sp.

Harnessing the power of bioleaching to recover metal from low quality ores and waste material is energetically advantageous compared to smelting and purifying.

Studies have shown that the inclusion of Ferroplasma thermophilum along with the bacteria Acidithiobacillus caldus and Leptospirillum ferriphilum can bioaugment the leaching process of chalcopyrite and increase the rate at which copper is recovered.

[12] The strain Ferroplasma acidiphilum YT is a facultative anaerobe with all the required genes for arginine fermentation.

[13][14] Ferroplasma acidarmanus Fer1 was isolated from mine samples collected at Iron Mountain, California.

[4] In aerobic conditions with low concentrations of yeast extract F. thermophilum grows by oxidizing ferrous iron.

[4] This makes F. thermophilum ecologically important for iron and sulfur cycling at pyrite-rich mine sites.