Australia is on the brink of a new one gold rush, after geologists announced a breakthrough in discovering hidden gold through chemical imprints in rocks. By identifying specific chemical traces in rocks, scientists can now "see" hidden deposits, located deep below the earth's surface.
Why geologists predict a new gold rush to Australia?
The experts from the Geological Survey of Western Australia (GSWA) provided the industry with an innovative method of analysis. Instead of relying solely on traditional drilling, researchers are already using chemical signatures, to locate promising areas.
By analyzing thousands of samples, GSWA identifies the lineups, closely related to the formation of gold-rich mineral systems. These systems often formed billions of years ago under extreme conditions deep in the Earth's crust.
“This is a huge step forward for global mineral exploration. Companies can now focus on highly promising areas with unprecedented accuracy", shares David Michael, Minister of Mines and Petroleum of Australia.
The Yilgarn Craton – an epicenter of discoveries
Using the new technology, geologists have already identified large-scale new prospects within the Yilgarn craton. It is one of the oldest and most mineral-rich geological provinces on Earth, which continues to surprise the scientific community with its potential.
The global context: Gold and copper in Argentina and China
The Australian discovery is part of a wider wave of significant geological finds in recent years:
- Argentina: A deposit was discovered near the Andes, cited as the largest source of copper, gold and silver for the latter 30 years.
- China: Huge gold reserves worth close to were located in the country 78 billion dollars, where the precious metal is literally visible to the naked eye in the rock samples.
The future: Fungi and gold mining in space
Apart from the chemical analyses, science is also looking for biological solutions. Australian researchers discovered a unique species fungi, which use the gold to build their mycelium.
This organism not only serves as a natural indicator of the presence of gold in the soil, but also opens the doors to innovative bio-harvesting methods. Scientists believe, that similar biological technologies could even be applied to extract resources in space in the future.
Conclusion
Combination of new chemical methods and biological discoveries ushers in 'Gold Rush 2.0'. For the readers of Geotopia one thing is clear: technology is making geology a more precise and exciting science than ever before.
