Human poo a mine of precious metals

Never was the expression “where there’s muck there’s brass” more appropriate.

Scientists have discovered a literal goldmine of precious metals in human poo.

The US researchers are investigating ways of flushing out the valuable minerals, including gold, silver, and rare elements, such as palladium and vanadium.

So far, the group has already identified gold in waste from American sewage treatment plants at levels which, if found in rock, could be worth mining.

The microscopic nuggets were observed using a scanning electron microscope.

Lead scientist Kathleen Smith, from the US Geological Survey, said: “The gold we found was at the level of a minimal mineral deposit.

“There are metals everywhere — in your haircare products, detergents, even nanoparticles that are put in socks to prevent bad odours.”

The metals find their way into the body and end going down the toilet. At sewage treatment plants they are concentrated in left-over “biosolids”.

Smith said: “We’re interested in collecting valuable metals that could be sold, including some of the more technologically important metals, such as vanadium and copper that are in cell phones, computers and alloys.”