PRESS-NEWS.org - Press Release Distribution
PRESS RELEASES DISTRIBUTION

There's gold in them thar trees

2013-10-23
(Press-News.org) Contact information: Emily Lehmann
emily.lehmann@csiro.au
61-395-458-746
CSIRO Australia
There's gold in them thar trees

Eucalyptus trees - or gum trees as they are know - are drawing up gold particles from the earth via their root system and depositing it 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 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.



INFORMATION:



ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

The hitchhiker antigen: Cause for concern?

2013-10-23
The hitchhiker antigen: Cause for concern? Since antibodies first attained prominence as research reagents in modern biological science labs, researchers have been perplexed as to why one production lot can differ significantly from the next, ...

How are Open Access and MOOCS disrupting the academic community in different ways?

2013-10-23
How are Open Access and MOOCS disrupting the academic community in different ways? New article in SAGE Open compares and contrasts the disruptive tensions of open-access publishing with MOOCs Los Angeles, CA (October 23, 2013) Supporters of open academic content ...

New eye treatment effective in laboratory tests

2013-10-23
New eye treatment effective in laboratory tests Promising new approach may lead to treatments for common eye diseases like neovascular macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy LA JOLLA, CA – October 23, 2013 – A promising technique for treating human eye disease ...

Changes in epigenetic DNA functions reveal how diabetes predisposes individuals to Alzheimer's

2013-10-23
Changes in epigenetic DNA functions reveal how diabetes predisposes individuals to Alzheimer's Mount Sinai researchers hope to exploit findings to develop novel preventive and treatment strategies for Alzheimer's disease New ...

Swiss private banking in clinch with high cost level

2013-10-23
Swiss private banking in clinch with high cost level For the international wealth management industry, 2012 was a more benign year than the harsh 2011. Due to favorable stock and bond markets the volumes of managed funds increased, though not returning to pre-crisis ...

The molecular clock of the common buzzard

2013-10-23
The molecular clock of the common buzzard Bielefeld biologists reveal the influence of genes on dispersal behavior This news release is available in German. Be it hibernation or the routes of migratory birds: all animal behaviour that is subject to annual ...

Nanopore opens new cellular doorway for drug transport

2013-10-23
Nanopore opens new cellular doorway for drug transport A living cell is built with barriers to keep things out – and researchers are constantly trying to find ways to smuggle molecules in.‬ ‪Professor Giovanni Maglia (Biochemistry, Molecular and Structural ...

New software traces origins of genetic disorders 20 times more accurately

2013-10-23
New software traces origins of genetic disorders 20 times more accurately In a bioinformatics breakthrough, iMinds – STADIUS – KU Leuven researchers have successfully applied advanced artificial intelligence to enable the automated analysis of huge amounts of ...

Insights into how TB tricks the immune system could help combat the disease

2013-10-23
Insights into how TB tricks the immune system could help combat the disease Researchers have identified a potential way to manipulate the immune system to improve its ability to fight off tuberculosis (TB). TB is a major problem for both humans and ...

Communication with similar people stronger than believed

2013-10-23
Communication with similar people stronger than believed People's tendency to communicate with similar people is stronger than earlier believed, which restricts the flow of information and ideas in social networks. These are the findings that an Aalto University ...

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:

Sensing sickness

Cost to build multifamily housing in California more than twice as high as in Texas

Program takes aim at drinking, unsafe sex, and sexual assault on college campuses

Inability to pay for healthcare reaches record high in U.S.

Science ‘storytelling’ urgently needed amid climate and biodiversity crisis

KAIST Develops Retinal Therapy to Restore Lost Vision​

Adipocyte-hepatocyte signaling mechanism uncovered in endoplasmic reticulum stress response

Mammals were adapting from life in the trees to living on the ground before dinosaur-killing asteroid

Low LDL cholesterol levels linked to reduced risk of dementia

Thickening of the eye’s retina associated with greater risk and severity of postoperative delirium in older patients

Almost one in ten people surveyed report having been harmed by the NHS in the last three years

Enhancing light control with complex frequency excitations

New research finds novel drug target for acute myeloid leukemia, bringing hope for cancer patients

New insight into factors associated with a common disease among dogs and humans

Illuminating single atoms for sustainable propylene production

New study finds Rocky Mountain snow contamination

Study examines lactation in critically ill patients

UVA Engineering Dean Jennifer West earns AIMBE’s 2025 Pierre Galletti Award

Doubling down on metasurfaces

New Cedars-Sinai study shows how specialized diet can improve gut disorders

Making moves and hitting the breaks: Owl journeys surprise researchers in western Montana

PKU Scientists simulate the origin and evolution of the North Atlantic Oscillation

ICRAFT breakthrough: Unlocking A20’s dual role in cancer immunotherapy

How VR technology is changing the game for Alzheimer’s disease

A borrowed bacterial gene allowed some marine diatoms to live on a seaweed diet

Balance between two competing nerve proteins deters symptoms of autism in mice

Use of antifungals in agriculture may increase resistance in an infectious yeast

Awareness grows of cancer risk from alcohol consumption, survey finds

The experts that can outsmart optical illusions

Pregnancy may reduce long COVID risk

[Press-News.org] There's gold in them thar trees