Contrary to popular belief, trees are not just for providing shade and food. Scientists have found a new place to give back: in our pockets. Gold does grow on trees. It’s just a small deposit, and not many trees have it. This is why scientists are curious if the leaves’ deposits help boost the trees’ growth. Australia’s scientists have proven that certain eucalyptus trees’ leaves contain gold. The leaves tiny veins are filled with golden particles. These veins carry nutrients from the leaves to the trees’ roots.
The researchers used a flash enrichment chemical to collect the gold from the eucalyptus leaves’ veins. Eucalyptus trees are drawing up water containing gold, which becomes a part of the leaves. The scientists also found traces of gold in the tree’s roots. This means there might be an un-measured amount of gold in the trees. Gold tends to be heavier than other elements and typically sinks to the ground when it rains.
This small amount of gold can’t do much harm. Scientists have shown that the gold is not toxic to the trees and doesn’t interfere with their growth. The gold might even have a positive effect on the trees. If the gold helps to combat pests, such as caterpillars and termites, it could help the trees grow more quickly. The researchers believe that more eucalyptus trees have gold in their leaves than previously noted.
Eucalyptus trees are popular in some areas for decorative purposes and adding oxygen to the air. However, they are not native to North America. Scientists have found gold in leaves on trees that grow in Australia. They have not yet determined if the gold is the same type of gold as those mined in North America. The presence of gold on the surface of leaves could prove to be very useful as it may serve as an indicator for further deposits beneath the ground.
Researchers are working to find more gold on trees and in the environment. Every day, scientists discover new elements and materials in the world around us. The discovery of gold on trees is an exciting sign that there could be more gold in more unlikely places. Mineral exploration and mining are constantly seeking to find the next big thing. The scientist discovered gold on trees is a very promising sign that other places could provide valuable minerals.
Gold is often found in many different types of environments. Discovering that gold is infused in eucalyptus trees could lead scientists to find other sources of gold and other minerals. Costly and frustrating dead ends mar mineral exploration. This is why finding a new source of gold could be extremely useful. It could provide a value that is currently not being used.
It could save miners the cost associated with mining new prospects. Gold is commonly used to make jewelry in many other industries. This discovery can be very lucrative for mining companies and governments that allocate resources for mineral exploration.
This finding could also be very beneficial for eucalyptus trees. The discovery that gold is in their leaves suggests that the trees could be grown for their leaves’ geolocation value. Currently, leaves are used for medical treatments in many Asian countries. The trees could also be grown as ornamentals and for biomass.
Of interest to miners will be how to locate gold deposits. By finding gold in trees and soil, miners could find the best ways to extract and utilize the precious element from the ground. The discovery of gold in eucalyptus trees could be a valuable resource for future generations, gold miners, and investors. Researchers continue to find the correlation between gold and nature. Gold is a precious resource, and there will continue to be discoveries that will lead us to be more knowledgeable about gold and its role in the natural world.