Published on Sep. 5, 2024, 4:40 PM
Have you ever wondered where gold nuggets come from? In a 2024 study, researchers explored how earthquakes could be helping to form them.
Earthquakes potentially play a significant role in the creation of gold nuggets, as suggested by a recent study published in the journal Nature Geosciences.
Previous Assumptions
Traditionally, it was believed that gold formed through the movement of hot fluids within the Earth’s crust, predominantly within quartz veins. However, the low gold concentration in these fluids posed a challenge in explaining the presence of large gold nuggets.
Discoveries from the Study
Geologist Dr. Chris Voisey and his team delved into a new theory involving piezoelectricity, the phenomenon where quartz generates an electric charge under stress, such as during seismic activity like earthquakes.
Through laboratory simulations of earthquake conditions, the researchers observed that stressed quartz could electrochemically deposit gold onto its surface, a finding that shed light on the potential mechanism behind the formation of gold nuggets.
Insight into Gold Deposition
Study co-author Professor Andy Tomkins, from Monash University School of Earth, Atmosphere and Environment, remarked on the significance of their discovery, highlighting that the stressed quartz not only deposited gold electrochemically but also attracted gold nanoparticles. Interestingly, the gold tended to accumulate on existing gold grains rather than forming entirely new nuggets.
These findings challenge traditional views on the formation of gold nuggets and open up new avenues for understanding the intricate processes that contribute to the creation of valuable mineral deposits.
