矿物表面“长”黄金！我国科学家有新发现

Core Viewpoint - Chinese researchers have revealed a new mechanism for gold precipitation induced by pyrite, providing insights into the formation of high-grade gold deposits and presenting a novel perspective on gold ore genesis [1][3]. Group 1: Research Findings - The study utilized in-situ liquid-phase transmission electron microscopy to capture the dynamic process of gold nanoparticle formation on the surface of pyrite for the first time at the nanoscale [1]. - Previous research relied on offline analysis post-reaction, which could not capture the instantaneous process of gold precipitation or elucidate its formation mechanism [3]. - The researchers observed that gold nanoparticles do not form "out of thin air" in the solution but are generated in a "dense liquid layer" closely adhering to the pyrite surface [3]. Group 2: Mechanism and Implications - The dissolution of pyrite alters the chemical environment of this liquid layer, leading to rapid supersaturation of gold and its precipitation as solid particles, effectively creating a "nano-factory" [3]. - This mechanism is applicable to explain the enrichment processes of gold in natural hydrothermal gold deposits, including orogenic, Carlin-type, and shallow low-temperature hydrothermal types [5]. - From an application perspective, the mechanism offers guidance for interface regulation in green gold leaching processes [5].