The search for these natural but 'invisible' nanoparticles is important. If they can be proved to exist, the knowledge will help give us a deeper understanding of how gold can be transported and deposited by geological processes, and therefore help explorers to find new gold deposits in Australia.
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| Scanning electron microscope image of the gold triangles showing their well defined crystal shape |
Now, hard evidence that gold nanoparticles have finally been seen in nature is presented in a paper published in Geology and authored by CSIRO Scientists from the Minerals Down Under National Research Flagship and CRC LEME, in collaboration with scientists from Curtin University and the University of Western Australia.
Lead author, CSIRO's Dr Rob Hough, explains that the particles were discovered in Western Australia. "In the southern areas of the State, groundwater is very salty and acidic. This water dissolves primary gold and re-deposits it as pure gold crystals on fracture surfaces and in open pore spaces," he says.
Comment: While Chinese villagers accuse each other of stealing rain it would seem that weather modification may indeed be a potent weapon whether today or in the future. Israel might deprive the Palestinians of the West Bank and Gaza for example.
When water is such a critical yet scarce resource, experience shows us that we should not be surprised to see technology that could help people being turned against them.