How Earthquakes Help Form Gold Nuggets
Large gold nuggets like this may owe their formation to earthquakes
Post Author - Ellis Nolan
Here’s some science Yosemite Sam might like to hear: According to a recent study, earthquakes may have a role in the development of large gold nuggets. Eureka!
Most gold comes from deposits inside swaths of quartz, the second most common mineral in Earth’s crust. Usually when a deposit forms, it comes from gold dissolved in fluid in the lower levels of the Earth’s crust. This fluid seeps into cracks in quartz deposits, forming a nugget. However, only a certain amount of fluid can pass through these cracks in the quartz, thus limiting the size of the gold deposit. Scientists hypothesized that gold nanoparticles in the fluid could aggregate and cause larger nuggets within the quartz, however, the nanoparticles seemed to lack the chemical energy to do so.
According to the researchers, what might allow larger deposits to form has to do with a property of quartz called “piezoelectricity.” Put simply, piezoelectricity is the tendency to create an electric charge after mechanical stress is applied. Because of quartz’s chemical structure, stretching or squashing of the substance leads to an asymmetrical distribution of electric charge, which creates an electric charge.
Gold accumulation in the quartz piezocatalysis model
Scientists believe this extra charge could be what allows gold particles to “stick” to quartz deposits and create larger nuggets. To test this hypothesis, they placed quartz samples into a fluid with gold nanoparticles (a sort of seismic cereal: part of a balanced breakfast!). Then, an electric field was created to simulate an earthquake stretching the quartz. The results seem to show that the researchers were on the right path. That being said, they stress that the study was a “pilot” and that more research on the method must be done. Perhaps even more explanations for large nuggets will pan out in the future!
Interested in picking up some precious metals? Check out our Gems & Minerals collection!
Featured Product
Dunkleosteus - Skull Fossil Fragment
Latest News
-
Jul 29, 2025 Scientists Discover First Ever Ancient Roman Trilobite! Read More -
Jul 23, 2025 The Hollywood Sign: The Story of a City's Symbol Hollywoodland Read More -
Jul 20, 2025 Denver Museum Finds Dinosaurs in their Backyard! Read More -
Jul 17, 2025 Building Disneyland Read More -
Jul 10, 2025 Neolithic Vegetarians: Learn About the Wooden Tools Used by Early Humans! Read More -
Jul 04, 2025 Viking for a Day: Researchers Recreate Viking Voyages! Read More
Cool Things!
Scientists Discover First Ever Ancient Roman Trilobite!
It’s well known among archaeologists that the ancient Romans had a reverence for fossils. For example, it is thought they believed mammoth bones and teeth were those of dragons and cyclopes, and thus, these items were often displayed in places of power. However, researchers in Spain recently uncovered an exceedingly rare Roman fossil artifact from an unlikely place.
Denver Museum Finds Dinosaurs in their Backyard!
For patrons of a popular Denver museum, newly discovered dinosaur fossils are quite literally in their backyard!
Neolithic Vegetarians: Learn About the Wooden Tools Used by Early Humans!
When you think of the Stone Age, scenes of Neanderthals chasing down great beasts of old for food and furs might come to mind. Many studies have shown the invention and development of stone tools were essential to early humans’ efforts to hunt animals, but according to a recent study, that perspective may have an overbearing presence in the perception of the Stone Age.
Specimen Deep Dives
The Hollywood Sign: The Story of a City's Symbol Hollywoodland
Building Disneyland
When the Sky Split in Two: The Tunguska Event
Long Form Articles
The Artist Behind the Macintosh: Susan Kare and Apple Computers
While the two Steves, Jobs and Wozniak, are the most well known faces behind Apple computers, equally important to the products and culture of the company were those who crafted the experience of using their computers through design. The most notable of these visual architects was Susan Kare, a designer responsible for “humanizing” Macintosh computers.
Can I Lick It? Yes You Can!
Have you ever been unable to tell if a fossil was really a fossil, but you were too embarrassed to admit it? Have you ever wanted to lick a fossil just because, but you didn’t want to risk judgment from your peers? Well, good news! You can kill two birds with one stone! Licking a fossil can actually help you determine if it’s the real deal or just another rock.
Is It Legal To Own a Meteorite: How to Start Your Outer Space Collection!
Meteorites are some of the rarest geological specimens to be found on Earth. Of course, since these stones are not of our world, purchasing them can sometimes be a confusing process. Is it legal to own a meteorite? In short, yes! Read on for help starting your cosmic collection!