'Earth’s secret gold factory': Shocking way nature turns quartz into treasure

Produced by: Mohsin Shaikh Representative pic

Hidden Process

[{"selector":"#anim-e59bd1ed-8a97-4892-a8c0-89c05a9f46b6 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-32.67292275204777%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] The incredible transformation of quartz into massive gold nuggets was recently uncovered. Representative pic

Seismic Forces

[{"selector":"#anim-a96fed4a-7306-4ca5-920e-1e82f8f820b5 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-24.007127130582834%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Gold nuggets form deep underground along quartz fractures, driven by earthquake pressure. Representative pic

Electric Squeeze

[{"selector":"#anim-7544ef4a-eb3e-4a73-b630-b6f9d1e46d64 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(1.4047028258920307%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] The immense pressure creates an electric field in quartz, crucial to gold formation. Representative pic

Experiment Revealed

[{"selector":"#anim-a8f1baae-4d68-4006-a629-32fcf34b8c87 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-30.46431095716079%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Monash University experiments simulated seismic stress, extracting gold from quartz veins .

Golden Particles

[{"selector":"#anim-f7aa5f40-795d-4747-a17d-bedf77fe9902 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(11.833571092998499%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Stress-induced electric fields left tiny gold particles embedded on the quartz surface.

Piezoelectric Power

[{"selector":"#anim-ad170979-1fc4-4ad0-803b-7d7a43360c8f [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-11.597008193641432%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Researchers suggest piezoelectric voltages explain gold's "floating" appearance in quartz. Representative pic

Paradox Solved

[{"selector":"#anim-fb8e875e-e354-4c01-ad9b-1574880dc552 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(1.0235265235600899%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] The study addresses the " gold nugget paradox " of unexplained gold accumulation. Representative pic

Nugget Formation

[{"selector":"#anim-67dfabdc-647a-4932-bd01-e4d53f0b143d [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(12.552890810271592%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] This mechanism explains large nugget formation and intricate gold networks in quartz. Representative pic

Published Insight

[{"selector":"#anim-409d3dcd-36b4-436d-8afe-9de90b96f5aa [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-25.85682890453218%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] The findings, published in Nature Geoscience, shed light on gold's seismic origins. Credit: Nicolas Emmanuel-Emile / Flickr / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

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