独居石是工业上重要的稀土矿石，但天然独居石中常伴生放射性铀、钍元素，给开采与应用带来挑 战。而乌毛蕨在自然生长的常温常压条件下所形成的生物独居石纯净、无辐射，展现出极具潜力的绿色 提取前景。 长期以来，植物界的"矿物制造能力"被低估。此次在乌毛蕨中发现稀土成矿，不仅刷新了人类对植 物的生物矿化机制的认知，也为近千种已知超富集植物的研究打开了新窗口。 该研究不仅揭示了植物对稀土的"解毒"与生物矿化机制，也为未来稀土资源的可持续利用提供了新 路径：通过种植乌毛蕨等超积累植物，可在修复污染土壤、恢复稀土尾矿生态的同时，从植物体中回收 高价值稀土，真正实现"边修复、边回收"的绿色循环模式。 （原载于《科技日报》 2025-11-13 06版） 记者近日从中国科学院广州地球化学研究所获悉，该院研究员朱建喜团队在一种名为"乌毛蕨"的蕨 类植物体内，发现大量富集的稀土元素，并且首次观测到这些稀土在植物组织细胞间"自我组装"，形成 了一种名为"镧独居石"的矿物。这是科学家首次在天然植物中发现稀土元素的生物成矿现象。研究成果 日前在线发表于国际期刊《环境科学与技术》。 研究人员发现，乌毛蕨属于一类特殊的稀土"超积累植物"，仿佛 ...

"这一过程，实际上是一种植物的自我保护机制，就像是植物在体内'打包封存'有毒物质，把可能 伤害细胞的稀土离子，稳稳锁进矿物结构中，实现稀土的钝化和自然'解毒'。"朱建喜说。 独居石是工业上重要的稀土矿石，但天然独居石中常伴生放射性铀、钍元素，给开采与应用带来挑 战。而乌毛蕨在自然生长的常温常压条件下所形成的生物独居石纯净、无辐射，展现出极具潜力的绿色 提取前景。 研究人员发现，乌毛蕨属于一类特殊的稀土"超积累植物"，仿佛土壤中的"稀土吸尘器"，能高效吸 收并浓缩分散在环境中的稀土元素。研究显示，在其叶片的维管束和表皮组织中，从土壤中吸收的稀土 元素会以纳米颗粒形式沉淀，并进一步结晶成磷酸盐稀土矿物。 科技日报讯 （记者叶青 通讯员孔令竹）记者近日从中国科学院广州地球化学研究所获悉，该院研 究员朱建喜团队在一种名为"乌毛蕨"的蕨类植物体内，发现大量富集的稀土元素，并且首次观测到这些 稀土在植物组织细胞间"自我组装"，形成了一种名为"镧独居石"的矿物。这是科学家首次在天然植物中 发现稀土元素的生物成矿现象。研究成果日前在线发表于国际期刊《环境科学与技术》。 长期以来，植物界的"矿物制造能力"被低估。此次在乌毛蕨中 ...

我国科研人员在一种名为乌毛蕨的蕨类植物体内，不仅发现大量富集的稀土元素，还首次观测到这 些稀土元素在植物组织细胞间"自我组装"，形成了一种名为"镧独居石"的矿物。 这是科学家首次在天然植物中发现稀土元素的生物成矿现象，为未来稀土资源的可持续利用提供了 新路径。相关成果于11月5日在线发表于国际学术期刊《环境科学与技术》。 稀土被誉为"工业维生素"，是人工智能、新能源、国防等重点领域不可或缺的核心战略资源，但传 统稀土矿物开采伴随着生态环境破坏。近年来，中国科学院广州地球化学研究所朱建喜研究员团队致力 于寻找更清洁、更可持续的稀土获取方式。 此前，科学界已发现乌毛蕨等一批特殊的稀土"超积累植物"，即对稀土元素具有超强富集能力。它 们仿佛土壤中的"稀土吸尘器"，能高效吸收并浓缩分散在环境中的稀土元素。 在该研究中，科学家观测到，在乌毛蕨叶片的维管束和表皮组织中，从土壤中吸收的稀土元素会以 纳米颗粒形式沉淀，并进一步结晶成一种名叫"镧独居石"的矿物。进一步研究发现，该过程实际上是一 种植物的自我保护机制，就像是植物在体内"打包封存"有毒物质，把可能伤害细胞的稀土离子，稳稳锁 进矿物结构中，实现稀土的钝化和自然"解毒 ...

Core Viewpoint - The discovery of rare earth elements in the plant species "Osmunda japonica" and their self-assembly into a mineral called "lanthanite" presents a new sustainable approach for rare earth resource utilization, potentially reducing ecological damage from traditional mining methods [1][5]. Group 1: Research Findings - Researchers found that rare earth elements are absorbed by Osmunda japonica and crystallize into lanthanite nanoparticles within the plant's vascular bundles and epidermal tissues [2][4]. - This process acts as a self-protection mechanism for the plant, effectively "packaging" toxic rare earth ions into a mineral structure, thereby detoxifying them [2][4]. Group 2: Implications for Sustainable Utilization - The formation of "biological lanthanite" in Osmunda japonica is pure and non-radioactive, offering a promising green extraction method compared to traditional mining, which often involves radioactive elements [4]. - The findings suggest that cultivating hyperaccumulator plants like Osmunda japonica could facilitate soil remediation and recovery of valuable rare earth elements, achieving a "repair and recovery" green cycle [5].

Core Insights - The research team led by Zhu Jianxi from the Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry has discovered a significant accumulation of rare earth elements in a fern species known as "Wumaojue" [1] - This study marks the first observation of self-assembly of rare earth elements within plant tissue, resulting in the formation of a mineral called "lanthanite" [1] - This finding represents the first instance of biogenic mineralization of rare earth elements in natural plants [1] Summary by Categories - **Research Findings** - The team found a large concentration of rare earth elements in the fern "Wumaojue" [1] - Rare earth elements were observed to self-assemble in plant tissue, forming lanthanite [1] - **Scientific Significance** - This discovery is the first of its kind, showcasing biogenic mineralization of rare earth elements in a natural plant [1]

Core Viewpoint - The discovery of rare earth elements in the plant "Osmunda japonica" and their self-assembly into a mineral called "lanthanite" presents a new sustainable pathway for rare earth resource utilization, addressing ecological concerns associated with traditional mining methods [1][2][4]. Group 1: Research Findings - Researchers found that rare earth elements absorbed by Osmunda japonica precipitate as nanoparticles and crystallize into lanthanite, which acts as a protective mechanism for the plant, effectively sequestering potentially harmful rare earth ions [2][4]. - The lanthanite formed by Osmunda japonica is pure and non-radioactive, unlike naturally occurring lanthanite that often contains radioactive elements, thus offering a promising green extraction potential [4]. Group 2: Implications for Sustainable Utilization - The study opens new avenues for research on hyperaccumulator plants and suggests that cultivating Osmunda japonica could facilitate the recovery of valuable rare earth elements while simultaneously remediating contaminated soils and restoring ecosystems affected by rare earth mining [4]. - This approach embodies a "repair and recover" green circular model, allowing for the dual benefit of environmental restoration and resource recovery [4].

我国科研人员在一种名为乌毛蕨的蕨类植物体内，不仅发现大量富集的稀土元素，还首次观测到这些稀 土元素在植物组织细胞间"自我组装"，形成了一种名为"镧独居石"的矿物。这是科学家首次在天然植物 中发现稀土元素的生物成矿现象，为未来稀土资源的可持续利用提供了新路径。相关成果于11月5日在 线发表于国际学术期刊《环境科学与技术》。 ...

Core Insights - The research team from the Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry has discovered a novel method of bio-mineralization of rare earth elements in a plant called "Oumao Fern," which forms a mineral known as "lanthanite" within its tissues [4][5][6] - This finding represents the first observation of bio-mineralization of rare earth elements in a natural plant, providing a potential sustainable method for rare earth extraction [4][5] Group 1: Research Findings - The study reveals that the Oumao Fern acts as a "rare earth vacuum cleaner," efficiently absorbing and concentrating rare earth elements from the environment [5][6] - The rare earth elements are deposited in the form of nanoparticles within the plant's vascular bundles and epidermal tissues, which then crystallize into phosphate rare earth minerals [5][6] - This process serves as a protective mechanism for the plant, effectively "packaging" toxic rare earth ions and locking them into mineral structures, thus achieving detoxification [5][6] Group 2: Implications for Sustainable Resource Utilization - The research suggests that planting Oumao Fern and similar hyperaccumulator plants could facilitate the remediation of contaminated soils while simultaneously recovering valuable rare earth elements, creating a "repair and recovery" green cycle [5][6] - The bio-mineralized lanthanite formed by the Oumao Fern is free from radioactive elements like uranium and thorium, presenting a cleaner extraction alternative compared to traditional mining methods [6] - This discovery enhances the understanding of mineral production capabilities in plants, which have been historically underestimated, and opens new avenues for research into other hyperaccumulator species [6]

Core Viewpoint - The discovery of rare earth element biomineralization in the plant "Ophioglossum" presents a sustainable and cleaner method for rare earth extraction, addressing environmental concerns associated with traditional mining practices [1][5]. Group 1: Discovery and Significance - Researchers from the Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry have identified a rare earth biomineralization phenomenon in the "Ophioglossum" plant, marking the first instance of such a discovery in natural plants [1]. - The plant acts as a "rare earth vacuum cleaner," efficiently absorbing and concentrating rare earth elements from the soil, which are then precipitated as nanoparticles and crystallized into rare earth phosphate minerals [1][5]. Group 2: Mechanism and Implications - The process observed is a self-protective mechanism of the plant, where it "packages" potentially harmful rare earth ions into a mineral structure, effectively detoxifying them [2]. - The "biological monazite" formed under natural conditions is pure and non-radioactive, offering a promising green extraction alternative compared to traditional monazite, which often contains radioactive elements [4]. Group 3: Future Applications - This research not only enhances understanding of plant mineralization mechanisms but also opens new avenues for studying over a thousand known hyperaccumulating plants [5]. - Utilizing hyperaccumulating plants like "Ophioglossum" could lead to sustainable rare earth resource recovery while simultaneously remediating contaminated soils and restoring ecosystems, achieving a "repair and recovery" green cycle [5].

Core Insights - Researchers have discovered a significant accumulation of rare earth elements in a fern species called "U毛蕨" and observed the self-assembly of these elements into a mineral known as "lanthanite" within plant tissues, marking the first instance of biogenic mineralization of rare earth elements in natural plants [1][2] Group 1: Research Findings - The study published on November 5 in the journal "Environmental Science & Technology" highlights the potential for sustainable utilization of rare earth resources through the biogenic processes observed in U毛蕨 [1] - U毛蕨 has been identified as a "super-accumulator" plant, effectively absorbing and concentrating rare earth elements from the soil, functioning like a "vacuum cleaner" for these elements [1][2] Group 2: Implications for Industry - The biogenic lanthanite formed in U毛蕨 is free from radioactive elements like uranium and thorium, which are commonly found in natural lanthanite, presenting a cleaner alternative for rare earth extraction [3] - This discovery opens new avenues for the sustainable recovery of rare earth elements, suggesting that cultivating U毛蕨 and similar plants could facilitate soil remediation and the recovery of valuable rare earths simultaneously, promoting a green recycling model [3]