Australian studies say a fungus helps find gold

Australian Federal Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation said recently that its researchers have discovered a fungus that can absorb gold particles, a trait that could be used to find new gold deposits.
study, published in the British journal Nature Communications, showed that a fungus called spore sickle can absorb tiny gold particles. For fungi, this behavior may bring them biological benefits, as researchers have found that fungi that absorb gold particles grow larger and spread faster.
"These fungi can oxidize tiny gold particles and deposit them on their mycelium," said Dr. Hu Qing, lead author of the paper and a member of the Federal Organization for Scientific and Industrial Research. The
common in soils around the world, and researchers found gold particles in soils in the Boddington region of Western Australia. It is Australia's largest gold mine by far.
. Ravi Anand, chief scientist at the Federal Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, said he hopes to learn more about the fungus and its genetic function, combining it with other exploration tools to help find new gold deposits. Compared to traditional drilling methods, the use of fungal prospecting has less environmental impact and lower costs.