Gilding the gum tree – scientists strike gold in leaves

By October 23rd, 2013

Eucalyptus trees in the Kalgoorlie region of Western Australia are drawing up gold particles from the earth via their root system and depositing it in their leaves and branches.

Scientists from CSIRO made the discovery and have published their findings in the journal Nature Communications.

“The eucalypt acts as a hydraulic pump – its roots extend tens of metres into the ground and draw up water containing the gold. As the gold is likely to be toxic to the plant, it’s moved to the leaves and branches where it can be released or shed to the ground,” CSIRO geochemist Dr Mel Lintern said.

“The leaves could be used in combination with other tools as a more cost effective and environmentally friendly exploration technique.”

Dr Mel Lintern, CSIRO geochemist

The discovery is unlikely to start an old-time gold rush – the “nuggets” are about one-fifth the diameter of a human hair. However, it could provide a golden opportunity for mineral exploration, as the leaves or soil underneath the trees could indicate gold ore deposits buried up to tens of metres underground and under sediments that are up to 60 million years old.

“The leaves could be used in combination with other tools as a more cost effective and environmentally friendly exploration technique,” Dr Lintern said.

“By sampling and analysing vegetation for traces of minerals, we may get an idea of what’s happening below the surface without the need to drill. It’s a more targeted way of searching for minerals that reduces costs and impact on the environment.

“Eucalyptus trees are so common that this technique could be widely applied across Australia. It could also be used to find other metals such as zinc and copper.”

Using CSIRO’s Maia detector for x-ray elemental imaging at the Australian Synchrotron, the research team was able to locate and see the gold in the leaves. The Synchrotron produced images depicting the gold, which would otherwise have been untraceable.

“Our advanced x-ray imaging enabled the researchers to examine the leaves and produce clear images of the traces of gold and other metals, nestled within their structure,” principal scientist at the Australian Synchrotron Dr David Paterson said.

“Before enthusiasts rush to prospect this gold from the trees or even the leaf litter, you need to know that these are tiny nuggets, which are about one-fifth the diameter of a human hair and generally invisible by other techniques and equipment.”

CSIRO research using natural materials, such as calcrete and laterite in soils, for mineral exploration has led to many successful ore deposit discoveries in regional Australia. The outcomes of the research provide a direct boost to the national economy.

Access the full paper at Nature Communications

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Dr Mel Lintern – significance of the discovery
Dr Lintern talks about gold grains growing within the leaves of the eucalypt trees.

Transcript

We’ve discovered that gold grains are growing within the leaves of the eucalypt trees. Now this actually tells us something about the environment in which the trees are growing, in the case of the gold growing in the leaves it tells us that there is a gold deposit beneath where we’re standing.

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Dr Mel Lintern – how does the gold get to the leaves?
Dr Lintern talks about how the gold is being deposited in the leaves.

Transcript

The tree acts like a hydraulic pump. Water’s being brought up with nutrients and a little bit of gold right up to the foliage and in so doing the gold is being deposited in the leaves and being shed by the tree.

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Access the full paper at Nature Communications

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