Helsinki, Finland — In a groundbreaking discovery, scientists in Finland have found gold nanoparticles inside the needles of Norway spruce trees, suggesting the possible presence of large underground gold deposits beneath the forest floor.
The study, published on August 28 in the journal Environmental Microbiome, revealed that bacteria living inside the trees play a crucial role in helping spruce trees accumulate colloidal gold within their needles.
Lead researcher Kaisa Lehosmaa, an ecologist at the University of Oulu, explained, “Our results suggest that bacteria and other microbes living inside plants may influence the accumulation of gold in trees.”
These microbes, known as endophytes, are symbiotic organisms that assist plants in absorbing and distributing nutrients essential for growth. In this case, the bacteria appear to crystallize soluble gold particles, enabling trees to store them safely within their tissues.
This biological process, known as biomineralization, allows living organisms to control the formation of minerals through natural cellular mechanisms. The study suggests that the endophytes compact and stabilize gold particles, reducing their toxicity to the host plant.
Researchers conducted their study near the Kittilä mine in northern Finland, the largest gold-producing site in Europe. They analyzed 138 needle samples from 23 spruce trees, and remarkably, four trees contained measurable gold nanoparticles.
This discovery introduces an innovative and eco-friendly method for detecting underground gold deposits — using plants as natural bioindicators. The findings may revolutionize mineral exploration, reducing the need for invasive and environmentally damaging mining techniques.
As the holiday classic goes, “Silver and gold decorations on every Christmas tree,” Burl Ives may not have realized just how true those words could be — some Christmas trees literally have gold hidden inside their needles
