Trees can absorb metals from the environment, but the process is still largely unknown. A recent study of Norway spruce with gold in it's needles is helping scientists understand the role of microbes in this process. Read the article from The Weather Network or the study published Environmental Microbiome.
The Weather Network: https://www.theweathernetwork.com/en/news/nature/habitats/scientists-find-gold-particles-growing-in-spruce-tree-needles
Environmental Microbiome: https://environmentalmicrobiome.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40793-025-00770-x