Gold Particles Found in Trees May Usher in New Era of Mineral Exploration [VIDEO]

Money doesn't grow on trees. But gold does, sort of, according to new research on eucalyptus trees that indicates that gold particles are absorbed through the trees' root system and can be detected in the leaves.

The research, published in the journal Nature Communications, offers the first evidence of gold growing in trees, according to scientists at Australia's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO), who report the presence of tiny gold particles in the branches and leaves of eucalyptus and gum trees growing around the gold fields of Western Australia.

"The eucalypt acts as a hydraulic pump -- its roots extend tens of meters into the ground and draw up water containing the gold. As the gold is likely to be toxic to the plant, it's moved to the leaves and branches where it can be released or shed to the ground," said CSIRO geochemist Mel Lintern.

But before you run out and chop down the nearest eucalyptus tree, be warned: the gold particles are microscopic -- just one-fifth the diameter of a human hair and invisible to the naked eye.

The CSIRO researchers used powerful X-ray imaging tools at the Australian Synchrotron to locate and see the gold in the leaves.

However, the presence of gold in the trees could prove to be a golden opportunity for mineral exploration, as deposits in the trees could indicate gold ore deposits buried deep underground.

"The leaves could be used in combination with other tools to get an idea of what's happening below the surface without the need to drill. It could enhance gold exploration in a way that's more targeted and environmentally friendly," Lintern said, noting that some of the gold deposits below the surface could be 60 million years old.

"By sampling and analyzing vegetation for traces of minerals, we may get an idea of what's happening below the surface without the need to drill. It's a more targeted way of searching for minerals that reduces costs and impact on the environment.

"Eucalyptus trees are so common that this technique could be widely applied across Australia. It could also be used to find other metals such as zinc and copper," Lintern said.