Mount Erebus, an active volcano located on Ross Island, Antarctica, continuously emits approximately 80 grams of microscopic crystalline gold daily, according to research published in Geophysical Research Letters. The gold particles, some measuring up to 60 micrometers in diameter, are dispersed by wind currents as far as 1,000 kilometers from the summit crater.
Why Does Mount Erebus Produce Gold?
The phenomenon occurs because Mount Erebus serves as a conduit through which molten material from deep within the Earth’s crust reaches the surface. Within this volcanic system, gold mixes with various elements, including copper, silver, mercury, arsenic, selenium, and sulfur. While these elements are present in volcanic emissions globally, Mount Erebus is unique in its ability to release this gold in the form of nearly perfect crystals.
Scientists hypothesize that the gold is transported from the magma in the form of volatile compounds bonded with chlorine or sulfur. As these gases cool, the gold precipitates out, forming crystals that settle into the snow. An alternative theory suggests the gold may form on the surface of the lava lake before being lofted into the atmosphere by volcanic gases.
How Does Erebus Compare to Other Global Volcanoes?
The presence of gold in volcanic gas is not exclusive to Antarctica. Chemical analysis has detected trace amounts of gold in samples from:
- Kilauea, Hawaii
- Etna, Italy
- Augustine, Alaska
- El Chichón, Mexico
The distinction lies in the physical state of the output. While other volcanoes release trace chemical signatures of gold, Mount Erebus is the only volcano where the element manifests as pure gold in the shape of nearly ideal crystals.
Mount Erebus is the southernmost active volcano on Earth, situated approximately 1,350 kilometers from the South Pole. It creates a lake of boiling lava.
Future Trends in Volcanic Research
The discovery, detailed in 1991, remains a subject of study. The gold output is a mystery, as researchers know the amount of gold in the gas is quite small. Future research is expected to focus on the processes involved, such as the event over 1,300 years ago where volcanic material reached Greenland.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you mine gold from Mount Erebus?
No. While the volcano produces about 80 grams of gold daily, the particles are microscopic and widely dispersed by wind, making extraction impossible.
Is the gold in the volcano pure?
Yes, the particles recovered are described as pure gold in the shape of nearly ideal crystals.
Why is Mount Erebus the only volcano that does this?
Scientists are still investigating. It remains the only volcano from which pure gold in the shape of nearly ideal crystals escapes.
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