The　mechanism　and　characteristics　of　Meizhou　chalcopyrite　bioleaching　by　Acidianus　brierleyi　were　studied.　Adsorption　of　Acidianus　brierleyi　on　the　surface　of　ore　was　correlated　with　the　Langmuir　isotherm,　the　maximum　adsorption　capacity,　XAm,　was　5.00×108　cell/g,　the　adsorption　equilibrium　constant,　KA,　was　5.88　×10-7　mL/cell.　Bioleaching　of　Meizhou　chalcopyrite　by　Acidianus　brierleyi　proceeded　mainly　with　the　direct　bacterial　oxidation.　The　bioleaching　rate　of　copper　solely　by　Acidianus　brierleyi　was　0.0137　g/(L·h),　6　times　of　the　chemical　oxidation　rate　of　Fe3+.　The　bioleaching　rate　of　Meizhou　chalcopyrite　by　Acidianus　brierleyi　(65°C)　was　16　times　as　that　of　Thiobacillus　ferrooxidans　(31°C).　The　optimal　temperature　of　growth　and　leaching　with　Acidianus　brierleyi　was　65°C,　the　optimal　pH　of　growth　was　2.0,　whereas　the　optimal　pH　of　bioleaching　was　1.5.　Acidianus　brierleyi　would　have　a　potential　perspective　in　industrial　application,　as　it　could　leach　91.3　percent　of　copper　in　Meizhou　chalcopyrite　within　10　days.