Essentially what they perofrmed on that last research aricle
Biogeochemical data support this hypothesis, as the ash of the anomalous green L. cascadensis assayed 4 percent copper. Pretty simple. Assay the plants/lichen.
The copper was apparent on the lichens outter perimiter seen in green hues.
ROVER'S PHOTO BELOW - Take notice of the - lighter color lichen ( almost pale green agua green )
While... there is a darker lichen.
Could one assume - the lichen over the
lighter peachy quartz and light greys - adopted and leached the mineral color into its cells - based on the research paper - YES.
How about the
darker lichen in Rover's photo below ?
Did the darker lichen adopted / absorb - darker grey minerals into its cell structure ?
Former post - research paper does support how plant life can absorb minerals -
assaying the plants can provide a good means of understanding what minerals are present -
not just breaking rocks.
Correction last post. Could it be - cobalt or copper - grey hues in photo - has yet to see surface - air + water -
therefore has not presented other colors of green, blue, pink, purple ?
Meaning - minerals are still sealed in a casing of silicates.
Once rock is broke - more water or air would attack the grey mineral in which
allows the mineral to oxidize. If still sealed in rock - won't happen as fast.
Cheers....