Van der Waals forces are much stronger than any inertial forces that could make the gold (or any other metal) nanoparticles to become "airborne" in the geogas flow (about cm/day). What makes these nanoparticles move then?
Brownian motion? Any gold colloids will have to be small to eliminate sedimentation and stabilized (charge or sterically) to prevent such aggregation that you describe such as indicated in the webinars:
November 3rd, 2015 Adhesion and cohesion http://tinyurl.com/zwb2wlh
Nov 11th, 2008. Dispersion and nanotechnology http://tinyurl.com/hpywsge
I meant that this transport is taking place in pores filled with gases (air), in the vadose zone. Above the water table. Van der Waals forces exist even between He atoms. Thanks for your interest in this matter.
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