Summary of teh Article: How Earthquakes & Quartz Piezoelectricity Contribute to Gold Nugget Formation
This article details a new hypothesis explaining how large gold nuggets form in quartz veins, linking it to the piezoelectric properties of quartz and the repeated fracturing caused by earthquakes. here’s a breakdown of the key points:
* Piezoelectric Effect & Gold Deposition: Quartz, when stressed (like during an earthquake), generates an electrical voltage (piezoelectricity). This voltage alters the distribution of dissolved gold in surrounding fluids, causing it to precipitate out of solution.
* Nucleation & Concentration: Gold preferentially deposits on surfaces that facilitate nucleation (starting points for crystal growth). The piezoelectric field created by quartz provides these surfaces, explaining why gold isn’t evenly distributed but concentrated in veins.
* Earthquakes as a Catalyst: Earthquakes not only create fractures for fluid flow but reactivate the gold deposition process. Each quake generates stress, triggering more piezoelectric voltage and further gold precipitation.
* Nanoparticles to Nuggets: Experiments at monash University showed seismic waves induced piezoelectric voltage in quartz crystals immersed in gold-containing fluid, resulting in the formation of gold nanoparticles. These nanoparticles act as “seeds” for larger nuggets, as dissolved gold preferentially deposits on existing gold.
* Cumulative Growth: Gold nuggets grow through a cumulative process, with each earthquake adding another layer of deposition. This explains the large size of some nuggets found in fractured quartzite veins.
* Long-Term geological Cycle: This process isn’t a one-time event; it’s a cycle that can unfold over thousands of years, with repeated earthquakes driving gold accumulation.
* Implications & Future Research: The research suggests the possibility of recreating gold nugget formation in a lab (though not creating gold from nothing) and provides a deeper understanding of gold’s behavior in geological cycles. though, it doesn’t offer a new method for directly locating gold deposits.
in essence, the article proposes a compelling mechanism where earthquakes and the unique properties of quartz work together to concentrate and grow gold nuggets over geological timescales.
