Mount Erebus has continued to stun scientists by throwing out pieces of fortune which travel as ‘gold dust’ – the volcano has been emitting crystalised gold for many years
The world’s highest volcano has been spewing out thousands of pounds worth of gold every day – leaving scientists baffled by the phenomenon.
Mount Erebus, which stands 12,448ft tall in Antarctica, emits specks of crystalised gold which is believed to be worth £5,000 per day. Its frequent outburst has left “gold dust” scattered as far as 621 miles away from the site. The volcano sits on top of a thin layer of crust and releases pockets of gas, which features around 80 grams of the gold. On a less frequent basis, it throws out rock in strombolian eruptions.
Specialists from NASA explained that molten rock can easily rise up from the Earth’s interior with gold particles carried to the surface and crystallising. Experts suspect that the particles move through the air as “gold dust”, which would help solve why it can be found beyond the site. Mount Erebus is believed to be the southernmost active volcano in the world and overlooks the McMurdo research station on Ross Island.
The volcano joins Deception Island as the only two of 138 active volcanoes in Antarctica. It is by far Antartica’s most famous peal even though it’s not the most prominent. It also has a lava lake in the summit crater that has been active since at least 1972. However, because of its remote location, the volcano’s activity is primarily monitored by satellites. Conor Bacon, a postdoctoral research scientist at the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory at Columbia University in New York, told Live Science: “Erebus, which looms over the McMurdo research base on Scott Island, has been continuously erupting since at least 1972.
The expert explained that since then, the volcano has been known to “emit plumes of gas and steam”, which sometimes spews out rock “bombs” – called strombolian eruptions. He added: “One of its most interesting features is the persistent that occupies one of [its] summit craters, where molten material is present at the surface. These are actually quite rare, as it requires some very specific conditions to be met to ensure the surface never freezes over.”
Dr. Thomas Hughes is a UK-based scientist and science communicator who makes complex topics accessible to readers. His articles explore breakthroughs in various scientific disciplines, from space exploration to cutting-edge research.
