WorldWide Drilling Resource

Australian Scientists Strike Gold in Leaves Compiled by Amy White, Associate Editor WorldWide Drilling Resource ® Eucalyptus trees in Australia are telling scientists what is happening below the earth’s surface. Researchers from the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) believe trees growing on top of gold deposits deep underground suck up the gold in search of moisture during times of drought. “The particular trees that we did the research on appear to be bringing up gold from a remarkable [98 feet deep], which is about the equivalent of a ten-story build- ing,” said Dr. Melvyn Lintern, a research geochemist at CSIRO. This is the first time gold particles have been found in living material. The discovery will undoubtedly generate huge inter- est in the gold mining and exploration industry, but it’s not likely to start an old-time gold rush since the particles are only about one-fifth the diameter of a human hair. However, leaves or soil underneath the trees could indicate gold ore deposits underground. “By sampling and analyzing vegetation for traces of minerals, we may get an idea of what’s hap- pening below the surface without the need to drill... It could also be used to find other metals such as zinc and copper,” said Dr. Lintern. So should drilling contractors be worried? Probably not. Dri l l ing is at the heart of min- ing, and it doesn’t stop once the ex- ploration phase is complete. From drilling mine tun- nels during the c o n s t r u c t i o n phase, to drilling for placement of explosives during production, drilling cont ractors are imperative to the mining industry. No worries. Eucalyptus leaves with traces of different minerals. Image courtesy of CSIRO. 74 DECEMBER 2015 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® WWDR ’ s February issue is right around the bend. DEADLINES: Space Reservation: December 25 th Display & Classified Ad Copy: January 1 st