【科技日报】我国科学家首次在植物中发现稀土成矿

Group 1 - The research team led by Zhu Jianxi from the Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry discovered a significant accumulation of rare earth elements in a fern species called "Wumaojue," marking the first observation of biogenic mineralization of rare earths in natural plants [1][2] - Wumaojue is classified as a "hyperaccumulator" of rare earth elements, effectively acting as a "rare earth vacuum cleaner" that absorbs and concentrates these elements from the environment [1][2] - The study reveals that rare earth elements absorbed by the plant precipitate as nanoparticles in the vascular bundles and epidermal tissues, eventually crystallizing into rare earth phosphate minerals, showcasing a self-protective mechanism of the plant [1][2] Group 2 - The discovery challenges the long-held underestimation of plants' mineral manufacturing capabilities and opens new avenues for research on nearly a thousand known hyperaccumulating plants [2] - The findings provide insights into the detoxification and biogenic mineralization mechanisms of plants concerning rare earth elements, suggesting a sustainable path for rare earth resource utilization through the cultivation of hyperaccumulator plants like Wumaojue [2]