地震产生的电荷可能是石英脉中块状黄金生成的秘密
地震产生的电荷可能是石英脉中块状黄金生成的秘密Electricity generated by earthquakes might be the secret behind giant gold nuggets03 September 2024Scientists have long been fascinated by the formation of gold nuggets, often found nestled within quartz veins. New research led by Monash University geologists suggests that the process might be even more electrifying than we previously thought—literally.https://www.monash.edu/__data/assets/image/0005/3766451/Gold-nugget_2.jpg(Left): Scanning electron microscope image of gold deposited onto quartz via piezoelectric reactions during experiments. Inlay is a zoomed in image revealing that the texture of the gold grain is composed of multiple gold nanoparticles stuck together. (Right): Energy dispersive spectroscopic map of the sample. Highlighting the chemical composition of the sample area. Credit: Dr Chris Voisey.Gold nuggets, prized for their rarity and beauty, have been at the heart of gold rushes for centuries.“The standard explanation is that gold precipitates from hot, water-rich fluids as they flow through cracks in the Earth’s crust,” said Dr Chris Voisey, the lead author of the study published today in Nature Geoscience.“As these fluids cool or undergo chemical changes, gold separates out and becomes trapped in quartz veins,” he said.“While this theory is widely accepted, it doesn't fully explain the formation of large gold nuggets, especially considering that the concentration of gold in these fluids is extremely low.”The research team tested a new concept: piezoelectricity. Quartz, the mineral that typically hosts these gold deposits, has a unique property called piezoelectricity—it generates an electric charge when subjected to stress. This phenomenon is already familiar to us in everyday items like quartz watches and BBQ lighters, where a small mechanical force creates a significant voltage. What if the stress from earthquakes could do something similar within the Earth?To test this hypothesis, researchers conducted an experiment designed to replicate the conditions quartz might experience during an earthquake. They submerged quartz crystals in a gold-rich fluid and applied stress using a motor to simulate the shaking of an earthquake. After the experiment, the quartz samples were examined under a microscope to see if any gold had been deposited.“The results were stunning,” said study co-author Professor Andy Tomkins, from the Monash University School of Earth, Atmosphere and Environment.“The stressed quartz not only electrochemically deposited gold onto its surface, but it also formed and accumulated gold nanoparticles,” he said.“Remarkably, the gold had a tendency to deposit on existing gold grains rather than forming new ones.”This is because, while quartz is an electrical insulator, gold is a conductor.Once some gold is deposited, it becomes a focal point for further growth, effectively "plating" the gold grains with more gold.“Our discovery provides a plausible explanation for the formation of large gold nuggets in quartz veins,” said Dr Voisey.As the quartz is repeatedly stressed by earthquakes, it generates piezoelectric voltages that can reduce dissolved gold from the surrounding fluid, causing it to deposit.Over time, this process could lead to the formation of significant gold accumulations, ultimately producing the massive nuggets that have captivated treasure hunters and geologists alike.“In essence, the quartz acts like a natural battery, with gold as the electrode, slowly accumulating more gold with each seismic event,” said Dr Voisey.This process could explain why large gold nuggets are so often associated with quartz veins formed in earthquake related deposits.This new understanding of gold nugget formation not only sheds light on a longstanding geological mystery but also highlights the interrelationship between Earth’s physical and chemical processes.Media enquiries:
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Email: silvia.dropulich@monash.eduThumbnail image credited to James St. John, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons. https://www.monash.edu/science/news-events/news/current/electricity-generated-by-earthquakes-might-be-the-secret-behind-giant-gold-nuggets Monash University地质学家沃伊西Chris Voisey团队于9月2日在《自然地球科学》发表的最新研究指出，他们发现大型金块主要出现在造山带金矿床中，通常位于地下约6至12公里处，而这些矿床通常在地震期间形成。研究团队指出，石英是一种压电矿物，当它受到地质压力时会产生电荷。 他们推测，地震产生的压力波会使岩石破裂，让富含金的热液推入石英脉，接着使石英产生电荷，而这些电荷与溶解的金发生反应，使金沉淀并固化在石英脉中。沃伊西解释，“溶解在溶液中的金会优先沉积在石英脉中已经存在的金颗粒上。” 他进一步说明，“金本质上是作为进一步反应的电极，它会利用附近石英晶体产生的电压。” 这种现象导致金在石英脉中不断累积，最终在一次次地震后，形成巨大的金块。 还有这种事…点石成金指日可待啊 umn.umn 发表于 2024-9-18 20:10
还有这种事…点石成金指日可待啊
不知您是如何理解的。这里只是说地震可能导致形成金块，但这些金块不是凭空而来的，只不过是地震让溶液中的金凝固成块而已，等于是自然的开采，并非无中生有，将不是金子的变成金子。。
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