植物也能“造矿”？广东科学家在蕨类植物中发现稀土成矿现象

Core Insights - The research team from the Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry has made significant progress in discovering rare earth elements within a plant called "Osmunda japonica," which has shown a unique ability to self-assemble these elements into a mineral known as "Monazite-(La)" [1][2] Group 1: Research Findings - The "Osmunda japonica" is classified as a rare earth "hyperaccumulator" plant, effectively absorbing and concentrating rare earth elements from the soil [2] - The rare earth elements are found in the vascular bundles and epidermal tissues of the leaves, precipitating as nanoparticles and crystallizing into phosphate rare earth minerals [2] - This process acts as a self-protection mechanism for the plant, encapsulating potentially harmful rare earth ions within a mineral structure, thereby detoxifying them [2] Group 2: Industrial Implications - Monazite is an important industrial rare earth ore, but natural monazite often contains radioactive elements like uranium and thorium, complicating extraction and application [6] - The "biological monazite" formed by "Osmunda japonica" under normal temperature and pressure conditions is pure and non-radioactive, presenting a promising avenue for green extraction [6] - The discovery enhances understanding of plant mineralization capabilities, previously underestimated, and opens new research opportunities for nearly a thousand known hyperaccumulating plants [6] Group 3: Environmental and Economic Benefits - The research published in the journal "Environmental Science & Technology" reveals the detoxification and mineralization mechanisms of plants regarding rare earth elements [6] - Utilizing hyperaccumulator plants like "Osmunda japonica" can facilitate soil remediation and recovery of valuable rare earth elements from contaminated sites, promoting a green recycling model of "repair and recovery" [6]