October 16, 2025 | Web Desk

In a fascinating new discovery, scientists in Finland have found that Norway spruce trees can store microscopic gold particles within their needles — a finding that could revolutionize how gold deposits are detected underground.

The research, published in the journal Environmental Microbiome on August 28, reveals that bacteria living inside the trees play a key role in collecting and crystallizing tiny gold particles from the soil.

How Spruce Trees Naturally Gather Gold

According to Kaisa Lehosmaa, an ecologist at the University of Oulu, the study suggests that endophytic bacteria — microorganisms that live symbiotically inside plants — help trees absorb and stabilize trace minerals like gold.

> “Our results suggest that bacteria and other microbes living inside plants may influence the accumulation of gold in trees,” said Lehosmaa.

These bacteria perform a biological process known as biomineralization, through which living organisms form or accumulate minerals inside their tissues. In spruce trees, the microbes help transform soluble gold particles absorbed by the roots into solid nanoparticles, possibly reducing their toxicity in the process.

Research Conducted Near Europe’s Largest Gold Mine

The team carried out their research near the Kittilä mine in northern Finland — Europe’s biggest active gold producer. A total of 138 needle samples from 23 spruce trees were analyzed, and four trees were found to contain gold nanoparticles embedded within their needles.

This suggests that trees growing above mineral-rich areas might serve as natural indicators of hidden gold reserves below the surface.

A Green Method to Locate Gold Deposits

The discovery offers an eco-friendly alternative to traditional exploration techniques, which often involve destructive soil drilling and chemical analysis. By studying plant samples, scientists can potentially trace underground mineral deposits without damaging the environment.

The researchers believe this approach could open new avenues in sustainable mining and environmental monitoring, using nature itself to identify valuable resources.

Gold on Christmas Trees — Literally

As the study highlights, when Burl Ives famously sang “Silver and gold decorations on every Christmas tree” in Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, he might not have realized how close he was to reality — because spruce trees really do hold a bit of gold in their festive needles.