Australian scientists have for the first time unearthed hard evidence of the discovery of natural gold nano particles.

Scientists at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) say, while nano particles of gold have been created in laboratories, they have never been seen in nature prior to their study.

The researchers say that new findings made in collaboration with scientists from Curtin University and the University of Western Australia may be helpful in gaining a deeper understanding of how gold can be transported and deposited by geological processes, and thereby enable explorers to find new gold deposits.