Oil-water interfaces drive gold precipitation via microdroplet chemistry in thermal geological systems.

ABSTRACT: Sedimentary basins host high-grade gold mineralization at intersections of auriferous hydrothermal fluids and hydrocarbons. However, the precise mechanism of native gold formation associated with organic matter remains poorly understood. Here, we investigate gold precipitation at oil-water interfaces through in situ thermal experiments using various combinations of oil and HAuCl₄-bearing solutions. Our results reveal that gold particles form spontaneously following the extensive generation and evolution of water microdroplets at oil-water interfaces at temperatures of 140 to 400 °C. We propose that electrons (e^-), released from the conversion of hydroxide ions (OH^-) to hydroxyl radicals (·OH) in water microdroplets, together with H atoms (·H) formed through

SUBMITTER: Yuan G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12557480 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature