they found a bacteria that can make 24k gold

[chad]

krugman's argument that "there isn't enoug gold to have a gold standard" how now been rendered silent.

-----------------------------------

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/yes-science-has-found-a-bacteria-that-makes-24-carat-gold/

A team at Michigan State University has landed on a gold mine — albeit on the micro scale.
They call it “microbial alchemy.” Using the extremophile bacteria Cupriavidus metallidurans — a microbe that can grow in harsh, metallic environments – Kazem Kashefi, assistant professor of microbiology and molecular genetics, and Adam Brown, associate professor of electronic art and intermedia, have found that it can produce 24-carat (http://news.msu.edu/story/superman-strength-bacteria-produces-gold/), nearly 99.9 percent, pure gold.

http://www.theblaze.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/gold-producing-bacteria_1-620x413.jpg
Gold bits produced by the bacteria. (Photo: G.L. Kohuth via MSU.edu)
In a statement (http://news.msu.edu/story/superman-strength-bacteria-produces-gold/) about the findings from the university, Kashefi said they are literally “transforming gold from something that has no value into a solid, precious metal that’s valuable.”
The men gave the bacteria “unprecedented amounts” of gold chloride, which is a toxic chemical compound, and found not only do the microbes thrive on it, but they can produce gold in a relatively quick manner.

http://www.theblaze.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/gold-producing-bacteria_2-620x413.jpg
Bacteria cultured in toxic liquid gold compound produce usable flecks of solid, 24-carat gold. (Photo: G.L. Kohuth via MSU.edu)
In fact, the team created an art installation — The Great Work of the Metal Lover — that includes a portable laboratory (made of course from gold-plated hardware) that can make the gold in front of audiences.
“This is neo-alchemy. Every part, every detail of the project is a cross between modern microbiology and alchemy,” Brown said in a statement. “Science tries to explain the phenomenological world. As an artist, I’m trying to create a phenomenon. Art has the ability to push scientific inquiry.”
Unfortunately, the gold-producing bacteria is not going to solve economic crisis or make the men rich. Only producing a gold nugget in a week, bringing operations to a larger-scale production is not cost-effective. The university news release also states that the researchers have questions about the ethics of their findings as it relates to “greed, economy and environmental impact.”

[Gaillo]

Misleading article.

Gold cannot be created (by non-nuclear means), it's an element. The bacteria merely "collect" and concentrate the Gold from pre-existing areas of pollution/ore/Gold compounds.

I HATE misleading sensationalist BS "journalism" like this! :(

[chad]

still, they should be able to take massive amounts of material from old mines and get gold out of it more easily now.

[slowbell]

Misleading article.

Gold cannot be created (by non-nuclear means), it's an element. The bacteria merely "collect" and concentrate the Gold from pre-existing areas of pollution/ore/Gold compounds.

I HATE misleading sensationalist BS "journalism" like this! :(

Right on, Gaillo. Thanks.

One could argue Ben Bernanke is a bacteria that can make FRN's, at least a parasite. That would be more accurate.

We can expect more misleading articles going forward, trying to scare folks away from precious metals.

[beefsteak]

Gallio, Placer Dome (yes, Canada's biggest gold miner) actually licenses (much like Monsanto licensing) at least TWO specific gold excreting microbes for commercial use and has for over 18+ years now. Very tightly controlled, hence the licensing protocol. That is, the user can lease them but they can't own them. Additionally, they have restrictions upon multiplication of reproducing colonies.

Quite the rage in some circles, but it's old news.

[Twisted Titan]

The banker will never be able to create Silver and Gold

It has been forbidden by God.

[madfranks]

The men gave the bacteria “unprecedented amounts” of gold chloride, which is a toxic chemical compound, and found not only do the microbes thrive on it, but they can produce gold in a relatively quick manner.

There was gold to begin with, so they're not really producing it, just purifying it from a toxic compound. A little online research showed me that other things (like hydrogen peroxide) will also cause the gold to precipitate out of the gold chloride

[beefsteak]

Transmutation is alive and well. Remember the David Hudson posts offered by another GS'er recently?

GO ORMUS! It can be converted from monoatomic to "standard" form is one claim.

[vacuum]

Transmutation is alive and well. Remember the David Hudson posts offered by another GS'er recently?

GO ORMUS! It can be converted from monoatomic to "standard" form is one claim.

There's more too, which I don't post.

[beefsteak]

Understood, vacuum. Not many are ready for "the truth"...regardless of the topic. I personally know someone who works with Joe Champion, been to his Utah home, and has duplicated Joe's results altho' Joe has been at it longer and can still do it quicker and in more volumn.

The workerbee personal associate has NO chemistry background whatsoever. Makes it all the more impressive that he's been able to follow "directions" and achieve duplicate results under his OWN controlled experiments. Fascinating stuff.

[chad]

can you guys clue me in on what you're talking about?

[JohnQPublic]

can you guys clue me in on what you're talking about?

I have no idea what this is about, but googled the name posted by Beefsteak:

Ye who makes their own Gold makes their on rules 20th Century Alchemy by Joe Champion (http://www.drjoechampion.com/)


http://youtu.be/V13xKUPTvTY (http://youtu.be/V13xKUPTvTY)

[vacuum]

Understood, vacuum. Not many are ready for "the truth"...regardless of the topic. I personally know someone who works with Joe Champion, been to his Utah home, and has duplicated Joe's results altho' Joe has been at it longer and can still do it quicker and in more volumn.

The workerbee personal associate has NO chemistry background whatsoever. Makes it all the more impressive that he's been able to follow "directions" and achieve duplicate results under his OWN controlled experiments. Fascinating stuff.

Yes, this is exactly one of the things I was referring to. I know somebody who would be interested in talking to your friend. He knows someone else who worked with Champion.

[chad]

i googled his name. apparently there are lots of pissed off people that bought his license + have nothing. it also appears he has been in prison for fraud before. still interesting, but i wouldn't buy his $10,000 license.

[beefsteak]

Googling reveals all kinds of info, mostly negatory, agreed. However, one doesn't have to buy his "license"...as he's been very generous over the years, and publicly posted his methodologies in multiple venues. I have been the recipient of several on private video from my retired army associate. Weighed on camer beginning amounts, ending amounts, all on private recorded film in the LIVE presence of several witnesses.

One of Champion's youngest protege's actually won her Texas high school science faire with the successful transmutation in a 3# coffee can, back pre-patriot act. Made the local newspapers, clippings which can still be found. So can the PhD who supervised the

As far as his prison record? He's told that story many times and documented it 30 ways from Sunday. When one has a greedy venture capitalist as a partner when the imprisoned victim is the "brains"....well, now, just how unusual is THAT modus operandi? Sounds like TPTB for the last 30 years, minimally, yes?

In prison and now out of prison for over a dozen years, doesn't change the successful outcome nor the protocol. Fraud schmaud.

Prison changed Joe, of course. Can't blame him for offering to license what he can teach licensees. Sure weeds out the tire kickers!

Like I said, I haven't spent a dime. No, take that back, I did reimbuse my associate by buying a replacement 100 CD media. Seemed only fair to me. Seeing then doing is very very believable. Convinced me.

[JohnQPublic]

Aggie Alchemy John Bockris was known around Texas A&M as a chemist interested in "weird science." Joe Champion gave him all he could handle. (http://www.houstonpress.com/content/printVersion/216079/) By Brian Wallstin published: April 07, 1994

[Gaillo]

can you guys clue me in on what you're talking about?

They're talking about ORME (Orbitally Rearranged Monoatomic Elements). Google "David Hudson" for full details. In short, he claims to have discovered Mana, the Egyptian "Ormus", the philosophers stone, etc. and that this "scientific" alchemy will allow you to live forever, talk to/have sex with angels, not need food any more, etc. He put out a lecture video that was widely circulated among the "underground" of religious and spiritual circles in the mid '90s.

This was a pretty big thing at the time, before David Hudson dissappeared with a bunch of investor money like the scamming fuck he is. I warned several friends who became involved with him that he reeked of religious evangelist scammer, but they ignored me and lost several hundred dollars each when he left without giving anything of value for the "investments" in alchemical snake oil. They kept telling me what a fool I was for not investing with them and living forever... I got a chance to call them fools back several months later when they were poorer and still mortal! ;D

[JohnQPublic]

Here is a claim to the process: (http://www.levity.com/alchemy/nelson2_2.html)

Do not try this at home!

"(7) Joe Champion
In the 1990s, Joe Champion announced a variety of methods of transmutations of black sands by thermal burns, melts and kinetic methods. He was convicted of fraud in Arizona after being accused by an irate investor who failed to achieve satisfactory results. Other researchers (including the physicists Bockris and Sundaresan, 1994) validated his processes, however, so the question remain open for experiment.

The process was developed from a method of "growing gold" in an electrolytic cell which was originally developed by Dr. Walter Lussage, a Czechoslovakian geologist (d. 1977). Dr. Lussage revealed his process to Mr. Jack Keller, who taught it to Joe Champion in 1989. Champion subsequently developed the method further.

The original formula is quite simple: black sand (90 gr), charcoal (90 gr), and sodium nitrate (270 gr), pulverized to 200 mesh and mixed thoroughly. The reagents must be pulverized separately to avoid ignition. The mixture is ignited with a torch; it burns about 90 seconds, reaching a temperature of about 700o C. In one assay, the mixture contained 0.18 mg Au and 1.35 mg Ag before ignition; after ignition it contained 212.7 mg Au and 856.8 mg Ag.

Black sand typically is composed of 40% magnetite (Fe3O4), hematite (Fe2O3), or chalcopyrite (CuFeS2). The necesssary parental isotopes (cobalt, iron, manganese, nickel, and calcium) must be present, according to the formula:

Co59 + Ca40-44 ® Ag99-103
Ni60-64 + Ca44 ® Cd104-108

The addition of a molar proportion of lead enabled the atoms of gold to be collected as they formed, and served as an absorptive shield for radioactivity released in the reaction.

Another formula for the thermal burn process was carbon (300 gr), potassium nitrate (900 gr), sulfur (80 gr), silica (120 gr), ferrous sulfate (100 gr), cadmium (30 gr), mercury chloride (100 gr), lead oxide (50 gr), silver (5 gr), and calcium oxide (30 gr).
In one test that Champion described, the thermal melt process was accomplished in a gas-fired or inductively heated furnace, vented to release gases liberated in the process. A mixture of black sands (1 kg), mineral coal (1 kg), sodium nitrate (3 kg), lead (300 gr), silver (200 gr), and mercury chloride (HgCl2, 1 kg) in a graphite crucible yielded 44 gr gold, 6 gr platinum, and 35 gr rhodium.

Another gas-fired mixture tested by Champion was composed of black sands (100 gr), charcoal (300 gr), sodium nitrate (900 gr) and powered silver (500 gr). When an inductive furnace was employed, the formula needed to be modified: black sands (100 gr), charcoal (350 gr), sodium nitrate (150 gr), silver (50 gr), and copper powder (50 gr).

The gas or electricity was reduced during the ignition period. After the ignition was completed, the temperature was raised to 2000o C for 90 minutes. If necessary, borax or potassium nitrate was added to maintain fluidity of the mixture. When there was no more apparent reaction, the mixture was poured into a mold to cool, and the slag removed. Both the reaction mixture and the slag should be assayed.

Another method was discovered in 1993, utilizing the kinetic energy of a ball mill with 40 kg of carbon steel balls. The liner must be made of iron-coated steel and the reagents must be thoroughly dry for this method to work properly. The ball mill also must have an air-tight seal. 24% of the mineral weight should be ferric oxygen, which is required for the kinetic excitation transmutation to occur.

One of Champion's research associates, Greg Iseman (Mesa AZ), used a microwave digestion process to perform analyses of the formula; this method also produced transmutations.

If the reaction mixture exceeds 15 kg, the yield is reduced because the transmutation cycle is too long and begins to produce base elements instead of precious metals. It was found necessary to add traces of the target elements to the starting mixture in order for the resonance of those elements (i.e., Au) to act as a "stopping agent". Champion also noted:

The following reagents were required to produce synthetic precious metals by this process: silica, ferrous sulfate, lead oxide, calcium oxide, mercury sulfide, and cadmium. The mixture was combined with carbon, sodium or potassium nitrate, sulfur, mercury chloride, and silver. The formula produced synthetic gold, iridium, platinum, palladium, and rhodium...

When the chemical mixture is properly prepared, it has a reproductive factor of over 60%. This was later increased to 90-plus percent when an error was determined in the crystalline structure of the ferrous sulfate. The differences dealt with a magnetic susceptibility at high temperature, i.e., greater than 750o C...

The coincidence factor is extremely important in determining the effectiveness of any nuclear occurrence... The following parameters must be weighed:

1. Natural occurrence (%) of parental isotopes;
2. Percent relationship of parental isotopes to total mass;
3. Composition of total mass;
4. Thermal nuclear cross section of parental isotopes;
5. Magnetic susceptibility of nuclear moment;
6. Type and length of energy excitation;
7. Parental isotopes' complacency with additives...

The coincidence factor is also related to the 'treeing effect': it is a nuclear reaction, such as caused by low energy transmutation situations, where a parental element has multiple isotopes, but when combined with 10a and (10a + a o), produce more daughter isotopes than parents. If charted, this would resemble limbs on a tree..."

[JohnQPublic]

Here is another claim from someone who spent $6000 for a license:

$6000 goldmaking licence for free! (http://drchampion-goldmakingscam.blogspot.com/2011/03/6000-goldmaking-licence-for-free.html)

[chad]

i don't know if it's true or not, but i found this:

His "Electrum" spectrographically assays as Silver (Ag).

It "Tests" as 10-18 karat "gold" via electronic and acid testing due to it's rearranged electronic structure.

It is perfect for fooling jewelers and pawnshops but any refiner will pay you only for the silver, which is what it is.

Bottom line, check the mass. Au is 19.3 gm/cc. His stuff is not Au. Its electronically rearranged Silver (Ag) and Copper (Cu).

[singular_me]

just wanted to remind you that all kinds of metals can be found in asteroids/comets... so the days of gold/silver are counted. Everything comes to an end. Maybe they will find a ever rarer metal than gold in outer space and what then??? :)

ps: I dont know if I can take this gold bacteria story seriously though. But perhaps alchemists arent dead. It could explain why "they" were hunted down....

[beefsteak]

Nice to see some of the skeptics come out of the shadows with their recipes. Prolly why vacuum hasn't posted any more than he already has.

Once again, there are those who claim one thing and I've not talked to any of them, but Gaillo has. And he has his personal info to share. And there are those who have other experiences. That's what makes the world go'round.

As far as Hudson's claim about manna, who knows? I wasn't alive back then, nor did I save any. But one this is for sure...if ORME or ormus exists now, then it existed back since the dawn of time as well, yes? No one has invented any new molecules nor any atoms of which I'm aware.

[vacuum]

There are basically two kinds of knowledge/truth. The first kind is the one that people push and try to get you to believe. In that case, the skeptic says 'prove it to me before I'll believe you'. The second kind is the one where you have beg someone to tell you about it, and many times you don't even care if they really know what they're talking about or not. All you care about is picking up some kind of clue to lead you to ask the right questions, point you in the right direction.

One of the reasons the second kind exists is when very few understand it, or society opposes it. If you go around advertising something which you don't even understand, especially a topic like this, you attract the wrong people (for obvious reasons), and the misinformation and confusion increases exponentially. So I don't mind the skeptics, I'm a skeptic myself, but at the same time I have no desire to convince people. Not because of being jaded, but because it doesn't help until I have something solid. If people are interested however, we can try to figure it out together.

[mamboni]

The bacteria are reducing gold anions to zero state gold - fine so far. The bacteria have a high affinity receptor to pull gold anions out of solution - fine again. The problem will be the cost of preparing the gold anion solution that is non-toxic to the organism. Gold chloride is costly to make. Gold cyanide and gold nitrate are cheap to make but probalby toxic to the bacteria. So I don't think this is a viable way of making gold bullion from ore. However, I suppose a column of extremely high surface area coated with these bacteria could be used to extract gold chloride from sea water, if the receptor has a high enough gold affinity.

[beefsteak]

There are basically two kinds of knowledge/truth. The first kind is the one that people push and try to get you to believe. In that case, the skeptic says 'prove it to me before I'll believe you'. The second kind is the one where you have beg someone to tell you about it, and many times you don't even care if they really know what they're talking about or not. All you care about is picking up some kind of clue to lead you to ask the right questions, point you in the right direction.

One of the reasons the second kind exists is when very few understand it, or society opposes it. If you go around advertising something which you don't even understand, especially a topic like this, you attract the wrong people (for obvious reasons), and the misinformation and confusion increases exponentially. So I don't mind the skeptics, I'm a skeptic myself, but at the same time I have no desire to convince people. Not because of being jaded, but because it doesn't help until I have something solid. If people are interested however, we can try to figure it out together.

Thanks for sharing your two kinds of truth bases.

Yours truly would like to apprise you of my "kinds of truth." I have about 8 kinds of truth. Before I accept any conclusion that I've "achieved" or "arrived at" truth, at least 3 of my "truth test boxes" need to be ticked. The more ticked, the stronger my conviction. But I must find "truth" ticking 3 of the 8 before I will invest much energy in pursuing that particular "truth."

I did like / very much resonated with your "second kind of truth." Begging for that truth, earnestly seeking for that clue, and then Socratically questioning until 3 ticked box truth reveals itself is the deepest personal satisfaction leading to the most intense "joy of living" experiential outcome I've ever been fortunate enough to encounter. It's rare. It's life affirming. That 3 ticked box truth experience is my synaptic connection to Life Force, Higher Power, Jaweh. Thanks for sharing.

That's why I don't mind skeptics, either. They don't represent someone to convince. I appreciate knowing where "they" stand, regardless as to what I think of their conclusions or the processes they used to arrive at "truth."

I DO get frustrated with innanity, I openly confess. Mostly, innanity is NOT found on this GS'er forum of gathered / sharing truth seekers. A fervent hallelujah to that "truth."

[MAGNES]

Googling reveals all kinds of info, mostly negatory, agreed. However, one doesn't have to buy his "license"...as he's been very generous over the years, and publicly posted his methodologies in multiple venues. I have been the recipient of several on private video from my retired army associate. Weighed on camer beginning amounts, ending amounts, all on private recorded film in the LIVE presence of several witnesses.

One of Champion's youngest protege's actually won her Texas high school science faire with the successful transmutation in a 3# coffee can, back pre-patriot act. Made the local newspapers, clippings which can still be found. So can the PhD who supervised the

As far as his prison record? He's told that story many times and documented it 30 ways from Sunday. When one has a greedy venture capitalist as a partner when the imprisoned victim is the "brains"....well, now, just how unusual is THAT modus operandi? Sounds like TPTB for the last 30 years, minimally, yes?

In prison and now out of prison for over a dozen years, doesn't change the successful outcome nor the protocol. Fraud schmaud.

Prison changed Joe, of course. Can't blame him for offering to license what he can teach licensees. Sure weeds out the tire kickers!

Like I said, I haven't spent a dime. No, take that back, I did reimbuse my associate by buying a replacement 100 CD media. Seemed only fair to me. Seeing then doing is very very believable. Convinced me.

So you and vacuum have the secrets to create gold and you are holding out on us.

[beefsteak]

Too funny. Holding out how exactly? By either personally testing publicly proferred protocols and finding they "work" or observing others who have documented to my satisfaction their doing so?

Magnes, I think that's the first time I've ever broken out into an audible chuckle after reading one of your posts. In fact, I'm not sure you've ever addressed me before. hmmm

[MAGNES]

Too funny. Holding out how exactly? By either personally testing publicly proferred protocols and finding they "work" or observing others who have documented to my satisfaction their doing so?

Magnes, I think that's the first time I've ever broken out into an audible chuckle after reading one of your posts. In fact, I'm not sure you've ever addressed me before. hmmm

I'll take that as a compliment, thank you sir, I don't use humor on here.

You have had plenty of opportunities in my threads, others, to engage, contribute, or shoot me,
WHERE ARE YOU DUDE ?

Vacuum has some very interesting comments going back.

Notice Goldie's comments, this is related to " you know who " . LOL !

Who were the " alchemists " of yesteryear ?

It's late here, I'm out of here, you guys have fun making gold with Goldie, Goldissima.
GIM's Gold Goddess.

[Glass]

The bacteria are reducing gold anions to zero state gold - fine so far. The bacteria have a high affinity receptor to pull gold anions out of solution - fine again. The problem will be the cost of preparing the gold anion solution that is non-toxic to the organism. Gold chloride is costly to make. Gold cyanide and gold nitrate are cheap to make but probalby toxic to the bacteria. So I don't think this is a viable way of making gold bullion from ore. However, I suppose a column of extremely high surface area coated with these bacteria could be used to extract gold chloride from sea water, if the receptor has a high enough gold affinity.

yes there are differences in the sources of gold that are being used. The leach process used here in Oz is mostly the cyanide method though not exclusive. If the bacteria could handle it then utilising the material in the leach ponds would be a good starting point. Process the tailings from current and old mines.

I like the sea water idea. it would be good if it could be integrated to a De-salination operation.

[beefsteak]

TWO more stories from my files, Australia, different species metallidurans
Bottom one from 2004, Top 2006 both involve same doctoral thesis writer.

Bugs turn dust into gold
Stephen Pincock
ABC Science Online


Friday, 14 July 2006

Gold
Bacteria remove gold from soil and deposit it on grains where they live, scientists say Australian scientists have found the strongest evidence so far that bacteria play a key role in forming gold grains and nuggets.

They have found bacteria that remove gold from the soil and deposit pure grains of it around them.

Researcher Dr Frank Reith from the CRC for Landscape Environments and Mineral Exploration, and colleagues gathered their evidence at two separate mines and publish their results today in the journal Science.

At the Tomakin mine on the south coast of New South Wales and the Hit or Miss mine in tropical north Queensland, most gold is hidden away in quartz veins, in amounts that are invisible even to high-powered microscopes.

But the soil above the mines also contains grains and nuggets of gold that have somehow found their way out of the quartz.

"There are a probably a lot of processes involved," Reith says.

He and other scientists have long suspected that bacteria play a part, but it's an idea that has generated some scepticism.

To test the theory, Reith sifted the soil above the mines and collected gold grains 0.l-2.5 millimetres across, and then subjected them to several experiments.

First, Reith looked at the grains under a high-powered electron microscope to confirm that they contained bacteria-shaped bubbles of gold.

"They're little lumps on the surface," Reith says.

Next, he looked for organic matter on the grains, as evidence that bacteria had been growing on their surfaces.

Finally, he used a technique called polymerase chain reaction to look for bacterial DNA on the surfaces of the grains to show that living bacteria are still there.

"The DNA would have degraded if the bacteria weren't around any more," Reith says.

About 80% of the grains had living bacteria on them, Reith says. And the only bug that was found on all those positive samples was Ralstonia metallidurans.

"These grains come from areas that are almost at the opposite ends of Australia," Reith notes. "We were pretty happy with that."

Reith thinks the Ralstonia bacteria play an important role in the microbial ecosystem in soil, helping to rid it of the soluble gold that most other species find toxic.

"This is the guy whose job it is to get the toxic gold out of the environment so the other bacteria can live a happy life," he says.

In the future, the gold-loving bugs could prove a boon to industry, Reith says. Perhaps they could be used to improve gold processing, or even be useful as a marker for the presence of gold that's otherwise invisible.
====================


Bugs grow gold that looks like coral
Heather Catchpole
ABC Science Online


Wednesday, 28 January 2004

gold coral
Microbes grow gold in the lab that buds and bubbles (Frank Reith)

Microbes that grow gold grains looking like a coral reef could open up new possibilities for mineral prospecting, according to an Australian researcher.

Frank Reith from the Australian National University in Canberra and Cooperative Research Centre for Landscape Environments and Mineral Exploration grew these 'bubbly' formations in the lab.

As part of his doctoral thesis Reith looked at the metal-munching microbes involved and how they grow gold grains and nuggets in mines.

He also published his research in the latest issue of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy's publicationthe AusIMM Bulletin.

Gold is usually found in ore bodies, or in waterborne or alluvial deposits that have collected and concentrated gold by physical processes. These processes include gold grains rolling down a stream bed.

Scientists know that microorganisms are involved in dissolving trace amounts of gold out of rock, which Reith's research confirmed.

Gold in the quartz vein at the Tomakin mine on the south coast of New South Wales is invisible, even to high-powered electron microscopes, said Reith.

The gold is hidden in sulfur-rich metal minerals, until the microbes remove it from the rock atom by atom.

But Reith suggested the microbes played another important role: transporting and precipitating gold to form grains and nuggets that collect in alluvial deposits.

He found traces of the microbes' genetic material on the deposits, which confirmed they were present.

[image here--I've misplaced it] gold coral
Coloured scanning electron micrograph of a gold flake produced by microbes (Frank Reith)

Reith then took some of the microbes from the mine and used them to 'grow' gold in the lab.

"The gold grains grow like a coral reef," Reith told ABC Science Online. "There is a mother cell, which produces buds, forming a bubbly formation."

Reith said the microbes at the surface of these formations could still be hard at work, forming new gold layers on top of the past generation's fossilised gold deposit.

Marker for gold
Reith suggested that the presence of the gold-digging microbes could be used as an environmentally friendly marker for geological exploration.

Looking at past geophysical data for signs of the microbes could prompt further exploration of an area where there is no visible gold deposit, he said.

"It would never substitute for other methods but it could be an add-on," said Reith. "If you found a lot of these organisms in the field you [would be able to] tell that there is some sort of mineralisation there."

Reith said the next step in his research would be to extract genetic material from the microbes to identify the species. He suspects they belong to the genus Pedomicrobium, which contains microbes known to dissolve other metals.

"It's very hard to pinpoint certain organisms; there are millions growing in the soil," he said.

Dr Dennis Gee, chief executive of the research centre involved in the research, said the process Reith unearthed could apply to the main alluvial gold fields in Victoria, at Bathurst in New South Wales, in the Northern Territory and possibly at Coolgardie in Western Australia.

The research could also be important in processing gold from ores that are hard to dissolve, said Gee. These make up one-third of all Australia's gold reserves.

[beefsteak]

yes there are differences in the sources of gold that are being used. The leach process used here in Oz is mostly the cyanide method though not exclusive. If the bacteria could handle it then utilising the material in the leach ponds would be a good starting point. Process the tailings from current and old mines.

I like the sea water idea. it would be good if it could be integrated to a De-salination operation.

Glass, perhaps it should be pointed out that the cyanide leach ponds to which you refer are a base (alkali) environ vs the sulfur (acid) environ of the bacterial/microbial research posted priorly on this thread involving the at least 2 of the 4 metallidurans' species I know of at this time.

[beefsteak]

Found this digging a little deeper, still has article's internal links intact, current linkage of entire article not easily retrieved. Help welcome from anyone interested.

Bugs grow gold that looks like coral



Heather Catchpole

ABC Science Online


Wednesday, 28 January 2004














Microbes that grow gold grains looking like a coral reef could open up new possibilities for mineral prospecting, according to an Australian researcher.

Frank Reith from the Australian National University (http://www.anu.edu.au/)in Canberra and Cooperative Research Centre for Landscape Environments and Mineral Exploration (http://leme.anu.edu.au/) grew these 'bubbly' formations in the lab.

As part of his doctoral thesis Reith looked at the metal-munching microbes involved and how they grow gold grains and nuggets in mines.

He also published his research in the latest issue of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (http://www.ausimm.com/)'s publication the AusIMM Bulletin.

Gold is usually found in ore bodies, or in waterborne or alluvial deposits that have collected and concentrated gold by physical processes. These processes include gold grains rolling down a stream bed.

Scientists know that microorganisms are involved in dissolving trace amounts of gold out of rock, which Reith's research confirmed.

Gold in the quartz vein at the Tomakin mine on the south coast of New South Wales is invisible, even to high-powered electron microscopes, said Reith.

The gold is hidden in sulfur-rich metal minerals, until the microbes remove it from the rock atom by atom.

But Reith suggested the microbes played another important role: transporting and precipitating gold to form grains and nuggets that collect in alluvial deposits.

He found traces of the microbes' genetic material on the deposits, which confirmed they were present.








Reith then took some of the microbes from the mine and used them to 'grow' gold in the lab.

"The gold grains grow like a coral reef," Reith told ABC Science Online. "There is a mother cell, which produces buds, forming a bubbly formation."

Reith said the microbes at the surface of these formations could still be hard at work, forming new gold layers on top of the past generation's fossilised gold deposit.

Marker for gold

Reith suggested that the presence of the gold-digging microbes could be used as an environmentally friendly marker for geological exploration.

Looking at past geophysical data for signs of the microbes could prompt further exploration of an area where there is no visible gold deposit, he said.

"It would never substitute for other methods but it could be an add-on," said Reith. "If you found a lot of these organisms in the field you [would be able to] tell that there is some sort of mineralisation there."

Reith said the next step in his research would be to extract genetic material from the microbes to identify the species. He suspects they belong to the genus Pedomicrobium, which contains microbes known to dissolve other metals.

"It's very hard to pinpoint certain organisms; there are millions growing in the soil," he said.

Dr Dennis Gee, chief executive of the research centre involved in the research, said the process Reith unearthed could apply to the main alluvial gold fields in Victoria, at Bathurst in New South Wales, in the Northern Territory and possibly at Coolgardie in Western Australia.

The research could also be important in processing gold from ores that are hard to dissolve, said Gee. These make up one-third of all Australia's gold reserves.

[beefsteak]

To the best of my knowledge, the following are the two additional specific (acidic environ) species by name, whose protocols are patented by Placer Dome and currently incorporated commercially in the mining industry using said leased duo currently.

There may be more in PD's IP portfolio, since I last nailed this down about 6 years ago.

Thiobacillus ferrooxidans and Leptospirillum ferrooxidans

Eat iron sulfides, poop gold.

[beefsteak]

Free eBook download (314 pages) Microbial Processing of Metal Sulfides available below:

http://www.ebooksdownloadfree.com/Engineering/Microbial-Processing-of-Metal-Sulfides-BI25238.html

Note: there is an earlier version, same title (323 pages) in .pdf form. Don't know what has been edited or deleted between two versions.

[beefsteak]

just wanted to remind you that all kinds of metals can be found in asteroids/comets... so the days of gold/silver are counted. Everything comes to an end. Maybe they will find a ever rarer metal than gold in outer space and what then??? :)

ps: I dont know if I can take this gold bacteria story seriously though. But perhaps alchemists arent dead. It could explain why "they" were hunted down....

singular_me,
perhaps the above resources will lead you to your particular truth on this subject? Proffered in that light.

[Santa]

This is fascinating stuff. Thanks, everybody.

Eat dirt and shit gold.

My kind of bacteria.

Better them than me. :)

[Spectrism]

I found a carwash that can make cars.

[gunDriller]

i think i might have some of that bacteria between my toes.

i wonder what Karat my toe jam is ?

[JohnQPublic]

i think i might have some of that bacteria between my toes.

i wonder what Karat my toe jam is ?

Don't know, and don't want to see, but I would bet that is a fungus! :D

[beefsteak]

i think i might have some of that bacteria between my toes.

i wonder what Karat my toe jam is ?

That's simple...8 karat. (Only 8 "betweens") Lower if there is sock fuzz like I get between mine. LOL

[StreetsOfGold]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrJkQbKvkNo

[mick silver]

i have for years had the bacteria thats make gold . as of today i have made over a 1000 ozs not bad