Dispelling myths about the Earth’s core, recent research reveals that it is not hollow but filled with a variety of precious metals such as platinum, ruthenium, and even gold. Despite the tantalizing prospect of these riches, accessing them buried over 1,850 feet beneath solid rock remains impossible for humanity. However, a groundbreaking discovery in Hawai’i’s volcanoes suggests that trace amounts of these coveted metals are making their way up from the depths of the planet.
Nils Messling, a geochemist at Gƶttingen University, expressed his excitement about the findings, stating, “Our data confirmed that material from the core, including gold and other precious metals, is leaking into Earthās mantle above.”
In a study published in the journal Nature, Messling and his team reported the detection of trace amounts of the precious metal ruthenium in volcanic rock samples collected across Hawai’i. Specifically, they identified the presence of the ruthenium isotope, Ā¹ā°ā°Ru, which was unexpected.
While Ā¹ā°ā°Ru is naturally found in Earth’s mantle, it is more prevalent in the core, where the majority of the planet’s precious metals reside. Due to the subtle differences between the ruthenium in the core and mantle, conventional analysis methods could not distinguish between the two. However, new isotopic analysis techniques developed by researchers at Gƶttingen University enabled them to identify the unique signature of Ā¹ā°ā°Ru originating from the core-mantle boundary.
This discovery has significant implications, indicating that Earth’s core, previously thought to be beyond reach, releases small amounts of its contents during volcanic eruptions.
Matthias Wilbold, a co-author of the study, highlighted the scale of this phenomenon, stating, “We can now also prove that huge volumes of super-heated mantle materialāseveral hundreds of quadrillion metric tons of rockāoriginate at the core-mantle boundary and rise to Earthās surface to form ocean islands like Hawaii.”
The focus now shifts from whether this process occurs to understanding when and how it has shaped Earth’s history.
Andrew Paul, Popular Science’s staff writer covering tech news, emphasizes the groundbreaking nature of these findings, stating, “Our discoveries offer a new perspective on the inner dynamics of our planet.”
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