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Fungus that draws gold from its surroundings discovered in Western Australia
The Guardian ^ | 5/24/19

Posted on 05/27/2019 5:13:13 AM PDT by LibWhacker

Fungus that draws gold from its surroundings has been discovered in Western Australia, stunning scientists who say it could signal new deposits.

Found near Boddington, south of Perth, the strain of the Fusarium oxysporum fungus attaches gold to its strands by dissolving and precipitating particles from the environment.

There may be a biological advantage in doing so, as the gold-coated fungus was found to grow larger and spread faster than those that don’t interact with the precious metal.

“Fungi are well-known for playing an essential role in the degradation and recycling of organic material, such as leaves and bark, as well as for the cycling of other metals, including aluminium, iron, manganese and calcium,” CSIRO researcher Dr Tsing Bohu said.

“But gold is so chemically inactive that this interaction is both unusual and surprising – it had to be seen to be believed.”

Bohu is undertaking further analysis and modelling to understand why the fungus is interacting with gold, and whether it is an indication of a larger deposit below the surface.

(Excerpt) Read more at theguardian.com ...


TOPICS: Australia/New Zealand; Business/Economy; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: aluminium; attaches; australia; calcium; fungus; fusariumoxysporum; gold; iron; manganese
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1 posted on 05/27/2019 5:13:13 AM PDT by LibWhacker
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To: LibWhacker
There's gold in them thar shrooms!
2 posted on 05/27/2019 5:15:32 AM PDT by 4yearlurker (If you are not interested you will see nothing but the road you walk on.-Jim Corbett)
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To: LibWhacker

Quick! Someone feed some to a goose!


3 posted on 05/27/2019 5:17:09 AM PDT by grey_whiskers (The opinions are solely those of the author and are subject to change with out notice.)
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To: grey_whiskers

This is twaddle. It’s not a new discovery. I know a lot of dames infected with this fungus


4 posted on 05/27/2019 5:18:43 AM PDT by KierkegaardMAN (This is the sort of stuff up with which I shall not put!)
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To: KierkegaardMAN
This is twaddle. It’s not a new discovery. I know a lot of dames infected with this fungus

*snerk*

5 posted on 05/27/2019 5:28:17 AM PDT by grey_whiskers (The opinions are solely those of the author and are subject to change with out notice.)
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To: LibWhacker
There may be a biological advantage in doing so, as the gold-coated fungus was found to grow larger and spread faster than those that don’t interact with the precious metal.

If the fungus can grow without gold it would be an excellent idea for gold mines to spray the spoors on their tailings piles. Let the fungus grow and then recover any gold the fungus gathers.

6 posted on 05/27/2019 5:42:32 AM PDT by Pontiac (The welfare state must fail because it is contrary to human nature and diminishes the human spirit)
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It’s the British rag Guardian.

They likely will have a “I married a Martian” story tomorrow.


7 posted on 05/27/2019 5:43:46 AM PDT by Sa-teef
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To: LibWhacker

Everything old is new again. Biosorption of metals by bacteria and fungi has been known for many decades. This usually works best for heavy elements like uranium or thorium and has been tried as a way to cleanup radioactive contamination.


8 posted on 05/27/2019 6:16:27 AM PDT by Brooklyn Attitude (The first step in ending the war on white people is to recognize it exists.)
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To: LibWhacker

Fungus bio-engineered and left behind by the Annunaki.


9 posted on 05/27/2019 6:35:59 AM PDT by Thumper1960 (Trump-2020)
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To: Brooklyn Attitude

“a way to cleanup radioactive contamination.”

Algae have been laying around for far too long. Let’s put them to work.


10 posted on 05/27/2019 6:37:18 AM PDT by Rennes Templar (Heaven has a wall and gates. Hell has open borders.)
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To: Brooklyn Attitude

Yep. And plants.

Locally, they tried a wood burning power plant in the 1970s. The pine trees came from an area with cadmium in the soil, and the concentrated cadmium in the ash was considered hazardous waste.

And, you don’t want to plant leafy vegetables in soil with heavy metals, either. Such as next to an old house that had lead [exterior] paint at some point.


11 posted on 05/27/2019 6:42:02 AM PDT by Calvin Locke
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To: LibWhacker

If it requires gold to live, then it’s probably endangered.


12 posted on 05/27/2019 7:18:06 AM PDT by Brilliant
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To: Fungi

ping

I hope this improves your prospects...


13 posted on 05/27/2019 7:26:41 AM PDT by null and void (The press is always lying. When they aren't actively lying, they are actively concealing the truth.)
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To: LibWhacker

Outstanding! My entire life has been about fungi...so I guess I can expect riches very soon!


14 posted on 05/27/2019 7:26:52 AM PDT by Gay State Conservative (A joke: Comey,Brennan and Lynch walk into a Barr...)
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To: LibWhacker

Quick, call Todd Hoffman!


15 posted on 05/27/2019 7:30:59 AM PDT by faucetman (Just the facts, ma'am, Just the facts)
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To: faucetman

The Sound of Silence

by Todd Hoffman

https://www.facebook.com/goldrushtodd/videos/sound-of-silence-disturbed-by-todd-hoffman/1456655994345538/

Very good rendition. If you liked the original (Simon and Garfunkel 1964) you’ll love this.


16 posted on 05/27/2019 7:42:49 AM PDT by faucetman (Just the facts, ma'am, Just the facts)
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To: Brilliant

“If it requires gold to live, then it’s probably endangered.”

Not in Western Australia. People there can make a living walking around the Outback with a metal detector digging nuggets from the soil.


17 posted on 05/27/2019 7:47:16 AM PDT by Rebelbase
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To: Gay State Conservative

I hope to find gold growing between my toes one day.


18 posted on 05/27/2019 7:48:22 AM PDT by Rebelbase
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To: Rebelbase
I hope to find gold growing between my toes one day.

I could reply to that but this is a family website.

19 posted on 05/27/2019 8:11:46 AM PDT by Gay State Conservative (A joke: Comey,Brennan and Lynch walk into a Barr...)
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To: LibWhacker

I seem to recall some other micro-organism being responsible for placer gold.


20 posted on 05/27/2019 8:19:10 AM PDT by fso301
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