Respirometry was used to study the growth and activity of six pure cultures of acidophilic bioleaching strains grown on a concentration series of low-grade chalcopyrite ores under various pH conditions. Sulfolobus metallicus, Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, Acidianus brierleyi and Leptospirillum ferriphilum were able to grow on a very low-grade ore (equivalent to 0.1% Cu content). However, the two sulphur-oxidising bacteria Acidithiobacillus caldus and Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans grew poorly on the low-grade ore. Growth rates of all strains, except for perhaps S. metallicus at highest ore grades, displayed growth that was limited by substrate availability on this low-grade ore (0.5% Cu content in the ore). The decrease in solution pH from 3.0 to 1.0 enhanced both the cell growth and Cu dissolution. Crown Copyright (C) 2011 Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.