Australian scientists develop technique to explore gold by eucalyptus trees
Australian scientists found that eucalyptus trees in the Kalgoorlie region of Western Australia, which are drawing up gold particles from the earth via their root system and depositing it in their leaves and branches, can help researchers to search for minerals, a latest research statement from CSIRO, Australian national science body, showed Wednesday.
This research, published in the journal Nature Communications, using natural materials, such as calcrete and laterite in soils, for mineral exploration has led to many successful ore deposit discoveries in regional Australia. According to CSIRO, the outcomes of the research provide a direct boost to the national economy.
CSIRO geochemist Dr Mel Lintern described how the eucalyptus trees to draw up gold particles from the earth.
"The eucalypt acts as a hydraulic pump -- its roots extend tens of meters 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, " Lintern explained.
"The leaves could be used in combination with other tools as a more cost effective and environmentally friendly exploration technique," Dr Lintern said.
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.
According to the statement, 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 meters underground and under sediments that are up to 60 million years old.
And Dr. Lintern confirmed by sampling and analyzing vegetation for traces of minerals, researchers 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," he said.
"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," Dr. Lintern added.
相关新闻：澳大利亚代表性的木本植物――桉树，虽是优良的造纸原材料，但却因过于强大的吸水、吸肥能力，被科学家戏谑为破坏生态的“抽水机”。澳大利亚研究人员23日报告说，桉树还具备“吸金”功能。
澳大利亚联邦科学和工业研究组织的研究人员在新一期《自然通讯》上报告称，桉树强大的根系能够深入地下数十米深处，在吸收水分的同时，会将水中微量的金元素吸收进树体。
研究人员表示，由于黄金元素对植物有害，桉树会将其运送到叶子或树枝等易于脱落的部位，但桉树形成的细微“金块”只有人类头发直径的五分之一，应该不会引发“淘金热”。
该组织的地球化学家梅尔•林特恩说，这一发现对于矿产勘探具有重要意义，桉树的落叶等或许可以指示，金矿就在脚下。这种方法与传统探矿方法结合，将降低勘探费用，且对环境伤害较小。
“对植物取样，分析其中的矿物，我们不用钻探就可以了解地表以下发生了什么。这是一种更有针对性、更为经济和环保的探矿方法，”林特恩说。(新华网)
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