Electricity Generated by Earthquakes May Be the Secret Behind Giant Gold Blocks

Copyright: Dr. Chris Voysey

Scientists have long been fascinated by the formation of gold nuggets, often found hidden within quartz veins. New research by Monash University geologists suggests the process may be even more exciting than previously thought – literally.

Gold coins, renowned for their rarity and beauty, have been at the heart of gold fevers for centuries.

The study was conducted by Dr Chris Voysey from Monash University's School of Earth, Atmosphere and Environment and will be published in the journal Nature Geoscience.

“The standard explanation is that gold precipitates from hot, water-rich fluids as they flow through cracks in the Earth's crust,” Dr. Voysey said.

“When these fluids cool or undergo chemical changes, the gold separates from them and becomes trapped in the quartz veins,” he added.

“While this theory is widely accepted, it does not fully explain the formation of large gold masses, especially given that the concentration of gold in these fluids is very low.”

The research team tested a new concept: piezoelectricity. The mineral that typically houses these gold deposits has a unique property called piezoelectricity — it generates an electrical charge when it is subjected to pressure. We’re already familiar with this phenomenon from everyday objects like quartz watches and barbecue grills, where a small mechanical force creates a large electrical voltage. But what if the pressure from earthquakes could do something similar inside the Earth?

To test this hypothesis, the researchers conducted an experiment designed to simulate the conditions that quartz might experience during an earthquake. They immersed quartz crystals in a gold-rich liquid and applied pressure with 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 amazing,” said study co-author Professor Andy Tomkins, from the School of Earth, Atmosphere and Environment at Monash University.

“The stressed quartz not only electrochemically deposited gold on its surface, but also formed and aggregated gold nanoparticles,” he added.

“Surprisingly, the gold had a tendency to precipitate onto existing gold grains rather than forming new ones.”

This is because quartz is an electrical insulator, while gold is an electrical conductor.

Once some gold is deposited, it becomes a focal point for further growth, effectively “coating” the gold grains with more gold.

“Our discovery provides a plausible explanation for the formation of large gold nuggets in quartz veins,” said Dr. Voisy.

As quartz is repeatedly stressed by earthquakes, it generates a piezoelectric voltage that can reduce the gold dissolved in the surrounding fluid, causing it to precipitate.

Over time, this process can lead to the formation of large accumulations of gold, eventually producing massive gold nuggets that have attracted the interest of treasure hunters and geologists alike.

“Basically, quartz acts like a natural battery, with gold as an electrode, and the gold slowly accumulates with each seismic event,” Dr. Voisy said.

This process may explain why large pieces of gold are often associated with quartz veins formed in sediments associated with earthquakes.

This new understanding of gold mass formation not only sheds light on a long-standing geological mystery, but also highlights the interrelationship between Earth's physical and chemical processes.

For more information: Nature Geoscience (2024). www.nature.com/articles/s41561-024-01514-1

Brought to you by Monash University

Quote: Electricity Generated by Earthquakes May Be Secret Behind Giant Gold Blocks (2024, September 2) Retrieved September 2, 2024 from https://phys.org/news/2024-09-electricity-generated-earthquakes-secret-giant.html

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