Unlocking Wealth: New Study Reveals How Gold Offers Growth Beyond Money

Plants do more than just breathe in carbon dioxide—they can actually make gold. In northern Finland, scientists discovered tiny gold particles in Norway spruce needles.

These spruces team up with tiny microbes, which help transform the plant’s chemistry in surprising ways. For the first time, a study from the University of Oulu linked these microbes to the creation of gold nanoparticles. Kaisa Lehosmaa, a postdoctoral researcher, notes, “Bacteria and other microbes living inside plants may influence the accumulation of gold in trees.” This finding could pave the way for greener methods of gold exploration and even help clean up polluted waters.

The Gold Connection

Researchers studied trees located above a known gold deposit at the Kittilä gold mine in Finnish Lapland. They wanted to find out if microbes in the spruce needles were linked to the presence of gold nanoparticles. Geologists have long understood that bacteria help break down minerals in rocks, releasing ions that can end up in plants.

To test their hypothesis, the team collected needle samples from Norway spruces and examined them. They used advanced microscopy to spot gold nanoparticles and mapped out the bacteria living inside the needles. Interestingly, they found gold particles often next to clusters of bacterial cells in a protective biofilm.

Microbial Power

Researchers discovered specific types of bacteria, like Cutibacterium, were more common in needles containing gold. Lehosmaa explains, “These specific spruce-associated bacteria can help transform soluble gold into solid particles inside the needles.” This could revolutionize gold exploration—if scientists can screen for those bacteria, they might find gold more efficiently.

Gold in the soil often moves as soluble ions in water. Inside spruce needles, the conditions created by the biofilms can change this chemistry, causing gold to solidify into nanoparticles. This mechanism shows how microbes and plants work together to manage metals.

Implications for Exploration

The research suggests that understanding these microbial relationships could improve biogeochemical exploration methods. Instead of random drilling, targeting specific microbes might lead to better results. This method won’t replace traditional exploration techniques, but it could provide a valuable additional layer of evidence.

This approach could also be relevant for environmental clean-up. Aquatic plants and microbes face the issue of metal contamination in waters near mining sites. If biofilms can pull metals from water, we could use similar principles in designing effective treatment systems.

Future Directions

Plants, seen as communities made up of their microbes, are crucial for understanding nutrient transfer and environmental stress management. In this case, the microbes in spruce needles seem to lock gold away safely. Future studies will focus on demonstrating how these microbes can form gold nanoparticles and whether this process occurs in other plants and environments.

The study emphasizes the importance of ecological relationships in mineral formation. As scientists explore these small ecosystems, they may uncover new methods for both resource extraction and environmental remediation.

For a deeper dive into this fascinating topic, check out the full study published in the journal Environmental Microbiome.

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