The paper presents a detailed record of certain types of lichens, microbes and Spinifex grass that have colonized Banded Magnetite Quartzite outcrops exposed over a 60 km long NNW-trending tract within Peninsular Gneiss in parts of Mandya, Ramanagara and Tumkur districts, Karnataka. The study discusses hyper-accumulation of noble metals and trace elements in Spinifex grass. The most common lichens identified are crustose and foliose that produce organic acids. The rhizosphere zone of the soil immediately around the Spinifex root is a hotspot for microbes. They produce the most complex chelating agents that are capable of removing metallic cations from minerals. The bacterial species Bacillus cereus which releases gold is isolated and identified by using biochemical methods. The Spinifex grass finally accumulates gold in its leaves, from the substratum. In this study, assay of ash of the Spinifex grass has indicated presence of gold and PGE and other metals. A few magnetite ore samples that possibly are source of gold have been analysed by destructive and non-destructive analytical methods. The analyses results have indicated their presence in significant quantity. The reasons why the Spinifex grass accumulates gold, Platinum Group Metals and other metals are presented. This work is still in its infancy and warrants a detailed study.
Plant-Microbe-Rock Association in Exploration for Gold
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The paper presents a detailed record of certain types of lichens, microbes and Spinifex grass that have colonized Banded Magnetite Quartzite outcrops exposed over a 60 km long NNW-trending tract within Peninsular Gneiss in parts of Mandya, Ramanagara and Tumkur districts, Karnataka. The study discusses hyper-accumulation of noble metals and trace elements in Spinifex grass. The most common lichens identified are crustose and foliose that produce organic acids. The rhizosphere zone of the soil immediately around the Spinifex root is a hotspot for microbes. They produce the most complex chelating agents that are capable of removing metallic cations from minerals. The bacterial species Bacillus cereus which releases gold is isolated and identified by using biochemical methods. The Spinifex grass finally accumulates gold in its leaves, from the substratum. In this study, assay of ash of the Spinifex grass has indicated presence of gold and PGE and other metals. A few magnetite ore samples that possibly are source of gold have been analysed by destructive and non-destructive analytical methods. The analyses results have indicated their presence in significant quantity. The reasons why the Spinifex grass accumulates gold, Platinum Group Metals and other metals are presented. This work is still in its infancy and warrants a detailed study.
Publication Mode |
Online |
---|---|
Publication Author |
S. S. Chandrashekar Math |
Publication Language |
English |
Publication Type |
Conference Paper |
Publication Year |
2021 |
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