English: Bacteria play an important role in the formation of gold nuggets in Australia according to recent research. The research was carried out by the Cooperative Research Centre for Landscape Environments and Mineral Exploration (CRC LEME) and led by CSIRO researcher, Dr Frank Reith. His study of gold grains, from the Tomakin Park and Hit or Miss gold mines in southern New South Wales and northern Queensland respectively, led to a series of discoveries which showed that specific bacteria present on these gold grains precipitate gold from solution. Applying molecular biology techniques, Dr Reith discovered a living biofilm on the surface of gold grains collected. DNA profiling of this biofilm identified 30 bacterial species with populations unique to the gold grains when compared to the surrounding soils. One species was identified on all of the DNA-positive gold grains from both locations. DNA sequence analysis of this bacterium identified it as Ralstonia metallidurans.