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Digging For Gold

"digging for gold" is an installation which resulted from a speculative artistic research on the scientific concept of phytomining. This research proposes a paralel between the two processes â€" phytomining for gold and the alchemical process.

Discussing this paralel, some similarities and differences are proposed. Firstly, both processes are described by similar stages. Phytomining, which is known as a green alternative to conventional mining, is aimed at extracting metals from soil via plants (hyperaccumulators). Such plants are sown, harvested and burnt, and then the metal is extracted from smelt bio ore. If some metal still remains in soil, the same process can be repeated again (Brooks, R.R., Chambers, M.F. et al (1998) 359-362).The process of gold phytomining is yet specific and less effective, as it involves the concept of induced hyperaccumulation. During this process a chemical complexing agent has to be added to the soil to increase gold absorbtion by the plant and then the metal can extracted from bio-ore. (Brooks, R.R., Chambers, M.F. et al (1998) 359-362).

In Western alchemical tradition the basic principles of the alchemical process â€" the Alchemical Work â€" can be explained by four stages, named after four colours (which are further divided into even more stages, according to various different sources):â€" Nigredo, the blackness, the burning of the matter into dark ashes;â€" Albedo, the whiteness, turning the black substance into white;â€" Citrinitas, the yellowing of the substance;â€" Rubedo as redness, the final and main stage of the Alchemical Work resulting in creation of the Philosopher’s Stone (lapis philosophorum). This stone was thought to turn metals into noble metals and, in a form of elixir of life, to perfect human beings, offering immortality and purification of the soul.(Regai, J. (1992) 58-77), (Hedesan, J. 2009).

Both processes â€" alchemical process and phytomining process â€" are divided into stages according to treatment of the basic mater (plants in phytomining and prima materia in alchemy) and both may be performed repetitively.

Secondly, the two processes are similar from the point of view of the main aim of the activity. In alchemy the main concern is to produce the elixir or the Philosopher's Stone and also the substance of medium of transmutation (Haeffner, M. (1991) 38). It was thought to turn base metals into noble metals (lead, zinc, nickel turned to silver and gold).In phytomining the interpretation of the concern may vary. Being closely related to the concept of phytoremediation, phytomining is associated with environmental arguments for being a green alternative to existing, environmentally destructive, mining practices (Brooks, R.R., Chambers, M.F. et al (1998) 359-362). However if seen as a process for extracting gold from soils or tailings, phytomining operation involves adding some toxic chemicals (ammonium thiocyanate, ammonium thiosulfate) to those soils, which raises some environmental concerns (Anderson, C.W.N., Brooks, R.R.#, et al (1999) 407â€"415).

So although the end purpose of both processes may seem to be the same, the sub-result is different. Gold phytomining results with extraction of gold as a very sought after metal, but at the same time it leads to further contamination of the soil or tailings and creates more environmental problems.Whereas the process of creation of philosopher's stone could not only lead to an ability to turn base metals into gold, but it would even direct towards purification of one's soul. From this perspective alchemical process would work as a metaphor for the goal of life. This concept has been adopted in the work of Carl Gustav Jung (his book “Psychology and Alchemyâ€, 1944) and other psychologists.

Comparing alchemical process with phytomining, the difference of time frame is important to mention. Phytomining is extended in time due to the biological process of plant growth using common plant species such as brassica juncea (Indian mustard) (Anderson, C.W.N., Brooks, R.R.#, et al (1999) 407â€"415) and daucus carota (topweight carrot) (Msuya, F.A., Brooks, R. R., Anderson, C.W.N. (2000) 134-137. Alchemy, however, allows to circumvent the natural processes in its chemical reactions and to go beyound the speed of nature.

After a few decades of research phytomining has resulted in gold extracted in the laboratory from gold ore with the help of hyperaccumulator plants. Alchemy though has not demonstrated any tangible results of “creating†gold yet, however, if regarded as a metaphor, it has a long and unrecorded history of remediation of human souls. To conclude, whether in a form of alchemy or phytomining, the eternal human attempt of finding gold refers to human being eternally rediscovering himself.

References:
Anderson, C.W.N., Brooks, R.R.#, et al (1999). Phytomining for nickel, thallium and gold. Journal of Geochemical Exploration 67, 407â€"415.
Brooks, R.R., Chambers, M.F. et al (1998). Phytomining, Elsevier Science Ltd., September 1998, Vol. 3, No. 9, 359-362.
Jung, C. G. (1944). Psychology and Alchemy, 2nd ed. 1968. Collected Works Vol. 12. London: Routledge.
Haeffner, M. (1991) The Dictionary of Alchemy: From Maria Prophetissa to Isaac Newton. Aquarian Press.
Msuya, F.A., Brooks, R. R., Anderson, C.W.N. (2000). Chemically-Induced Uptake of Gold by Root Crops: Its Significance for Phytomining. Gold Bulletin 33(4), 134-137.
Regai, J. (1992). The Philosopher's Stone: Alchemy and Chemistry, Alif: Journal of Comparative Poetics, No. 12, 58-77.
The Four Stages of Alchemical Work By Jo Hedesan. Published in Esoteric Coffeehouse www.esotericoffeehouse.com on 26 Jan 2009.


digging for gold
Installation
plastic box, sand, perspex, gold, light, gloves, 2015