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Aggregation of Nanogold Particles in the Environment

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Abstract

Nanogold exists widespread in the environment. For example, countless nanogold particles appear in weathered rocks due to chemical decomposition of mineral-concentrators (e.g., pyrite, arsenopyrite, pyrrhotite, and magnetite). Nanogold is usually represented by isolated particles dispersed in minerals and sedimentary rocks, but in certain conditions, Au nanoparticles are able to merge with each other and compose simple or complex aggregates. The mechanisms of aggregation are related to specific geochemical situations in the environment. In addition, superfluous surface energy of metal nanoparticles and their chemical activity essentially contribute to aggregation. There are two main ways of accumulation, namely adsorption on surface of minerals (mainly placer Au grains) and gradual consolidation of separate Au nanoparticles due to natural amalgamation. Aggregation of Au nanoparticles is a natural mechanism of accumulation in sedimentary rocks, which may be reproduced in nanotechnologies.

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Acknowledgments

The author wants to acknowledge some people who provided the grains of gold for the study (AG Barannikov, JA Kisin, VA Naumov, AJ Konopatkin) and colleagues from the Department of Mineralogy and Petrography of Perm State University for participating in field expeditions and extracting gold grains under laboratory conditions.

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  1. Perm State National Research University, Bukirev Street 15, 614990, Perm, Russia

    B. M. Osovetsky

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Osovetsky, B.M. Aggregation of Nanogold Particles in the Environment. Nat Resour Res 25, 241–253 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11053-015-9277-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11053-015-9277-9

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