How Fish Are Helping Scientists Find Gold In New Zealand

How Fish Are Helping Scientists Find Gold In New Zealand

By Eleanor Higgs

Source: iflscience

4/25/2023

Credit: optimarc/Shutterstock

Finding gold is notoriously difficult with a surprisingly small amount discovered in Earth's history. While some may discover exceptionally large nuggets, most go home empty-handed. In New Zealand however, one group of researchers had a brainwave: by combining the unusual mixture of geology and the genetics of fish populations they have quite literally struck gold.

New Zealand sits on two tectonic plates, meaning the geology of the country has been constantly changed as mountain ranges are created and rivers are altered in their course. Over the last 20 million years the drainage in eastern Southland has changed substantially causing changes to the distribution of alluvial gold. Also caught up in this geological upheaval are a small unassuming group of native freshwater fish in the genus Galaxias.

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News Id		Source	Stamp	country
3426	Longtime Lorain library goldfish Nemo swims to a new home at Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital	news5cleveland	2021-11-11	US
3427	Some of Earth’s longest-lived fish show how to reach extreme ages	nature	2021-11-12	US
3428	Cop26: Oceanographer Sylvia Earle calls for industrial fishing ban on high seas	theguardian	2021-11-10	UK
3429	Cambridge report recommends cutting the Riverside dam project	the record	2021-11-29	CA
3430	Castlewood creek popular despite E. coli levels	stltoday	2010-07-27	US
3431	Record 21.57 pound tautog caught off Newport	johnstonsunrise	2021-11-19	US
3432	A tiny Alaska town is split over a goldmine. At stake is a way of life	theguardian	2021-06-22	US
3433	Fish captured 'smoking cigarette' on camera saved before gobbling the entire thing	dailystar	2021-09-27	UK
3434	Zombie plant a threat to fish and even swimmers	CBC News	2021-09-07	CA

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