Gold may not literally push the trees, but a revolutionary study in Finland suggests that nature can get closer. Researchers investigating the norway spruce in northern Finland found tiny gold nanoparticles inside the trees. Surprisingly, these particles seem to be formed using microbes living inside the needles. The study, conducted by the University of Oulu and the Geological Survey of Finland, shows that specific bacteria can transform the soluble gold of the soil into solid particles inside the needles. This discovery opens up new possibilities for exploration in greener gold and based on plants and emphasizes how microbes calmly shape geochemistry in a way that science is just beginning to understand.
How microbes and trees work together to make gold
Norway spruce house a variety of microbes that influence chemical reactions inside their leaves and needles. DNA sequencing revealed that certain bacterial groups, such as P3OB-42, Cutibacterium and Corynebacterium, were more frequent in the needles containing goldenoparticles of gold. These microbes live in sticky biofilms, creating microenvironments which can precipitate dissolved gold in solid nanose particles, the “locking” effectively inside the needle.Gold in the ground moves in a soluble form through water, entering the roots of plants and traveling upwards towards the leaves and needles. Once inside, microenvironments shaped by microbial biofilms encourage gold to deposit in the form of solid particles. Not all trees contained gold, stressing that waterways, needle microbiomas and local conditions all play a role in the process.
Implications for greener exploration of gold
Traditionally, the exploration of gold is based on drilling and geochemical surveys. Understanding which microbes are in correlation with the presence of gold could help scientists develop plant -based screening methods, reducing blind drilling and environmental impact. By mapping microbial fingerprints in plant tissues, researchers can improve the efficiency and sustainability of mineral exploration.The same processes focused on microbes in plants could be used to recover water metals in regions impacted by mining. Plants and aquatic foams, for example, could precipitate metals in harmless solid forms, offering potential solutions for water purification and environmental correction.
The future of plant images geochemistry
Although the results are preliminary, they suggest that microbes inside the trees can contain the key to understand how minerals accumulate in nature. Future studies will aim to reproduce these transformations under controlled conditions, follow seasonal and underground influences and extend research to other plants and mineral deposits. The humble spruce needle can be a tiny but powerful laboratory to unlock the hidden alchemy of nature. If it is more proven, this discovery could transform forests into natural “biominage” areas – where the trees themselves guide exploration for precious metals. It is a reminder that even the quietest corners of nature could contain secrets of one more value than gold.
