Mount Erebus is not only known as one of the most active volcanoes globally, but also for being a ” gold volcano “, dispersing approximately 80 grams of gold daily into the cold Antarctic environment, a report by IFLScience reveals, citing to Mining magazine. Consequently, this phenomenon turns the volcano, located among the 138 active ones on the frozen continent, into an unconventional source of this valuable metal, whose daily value is estimated at close to $6,000 .
The volcano expels gold up to 1,000 km
The presence of this volcanic gold has been detected up to 1,000 kilometers away from Mount Erebus, which rises about 12,448 feet above sea level, according to data provided by IFLScience. According to experts at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Earth Observatory, gold is just one of the various materials ejected by Erebus , which adds particular interest to its emissions.
[post_relacionado]Located on a thin section of the Earth’s crust, Mount Erebus facilitates the rise of magma from the Earth’s interior to the surface . In this way, NASA has observed that the volcano continuously emanates gases and vapors, and sometimes expels rocks during Strombolian-type eruptions, adding an element of risk and spectacularity to its activity.
Mount Erebus and Air New Zealand Flight 901
Erebus is also infamous for the Mount Erebus disaster that occurred on November 28, 1979. On that fateful date, Air New Zealand Flight 901 hit the volcano, resulting in the deaths of all 257 people on board . This incident occurred during a sightseeing flight that promised an 11-hour journey from Auckland to Antarctica and back.
On the other hand, the continued emission of gold from Mount Erebus raises questions about the possible environmental consequences of metals dispersed by volcanic activities. Additional studies could explore how these metals affect local ecosystems and whether they could be harvested safely and sustainably, providing a new source of mineral resources in extreme environments.
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Source: worldenergytrade
Photo: Shutterstock