On a daily basis, an Antarctic volcano spews out gold worth $6,000
Ironically, a hotspot of volcanic activity is found on the cold continent of Antarctica.
There are over 138 volcanoes in the ice-capped area hidden beneath the snow, 91 of which were only recently found in 2017.
The Smithsonian Institution's Global Volcanism Programme states that three have erupted recently: Penguin Island in 1905; Deception Island in 1970; and Mount Erebus in 1972. The majority of them are thought to be dormant or potentially extinct.
With a summit elevation of 12,448 feet (3,794 metres), the
latter is the most famous active volcano in Antarctica and holds the
distinction of being the southernmost active volcano on Earth.
This massive structure has a bubbling hot lava lake inside its top crater that
has been visible from satellite photographs for the last thirty-two years.
According to Conor Bacon, a postdoctoral researcher in volcanic seismology at the University of Cambridge, it has been erupting continuously since "at least 1972," Live Science reported.
Since then, NASA's Earth Observatory reports that it has been observed to "emit plumes of gas and steam" and sporadically launch rock "bombs," which are collectively referred to as "strombolian eruptions."
Most astonishingly, though, these bursts of volcanic gas are practically worth their weight in gold.
This is due to the fact that, according to IFL Science, they are packed with minuscule gold particles, no bigger than 20 micrometres.
Scientists believe that the volcano
produces about 80g (2.8 ounces) of the precious metal in a single day, which is
worth more than £4,800 ($6,000). Despite this seemingly insignificant amount,
the quantity is significant.
Not only does the gold not stay atop Mount Erebus, as one might anticipate from dust on the wind.
Actually, it went into the atmosphere and left behind remnants that were found
1,000 kilometres (621 miles) from the volcano.
However, not all Antarctic volcanoes are well-known for their dazzling belches, and many scientists are still unsure of the possibility of an eruption in the future. And if they did, what would happen?
It is difficult to anticipate which of the 138 on the continent could be a ticking time bomb, according to researchers.
This is primarily because to the climate and logistical difficulties brought on by the harsh environment of the area.
In his interview with Live Science, Bacon emphasised that all monitoring tools "need to be rugged enough to survive the harsh conditions and long polar nights." To begin with, the volcanoes are considerably harder to access than those in other regions of the planet.
What would happen, then, if an eruption occurred on one or more of these
volcanoes?
By travelling back almost 20,000 years in time, we can uncover hints.
Mount Takahe is a volcano on the continent that is located close to the isolated heart of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet.
According to a 2017 study that was published in the journal PNAS, Takahe was the cause of a sequence of eruptions that happened roughly 18,000 years ago and were abundant in halogens that destroy ozone.
They asserted that the southern hemisphere warmed as a result of these eruptions, which caused an old hole in the ozone layer.
According to John Smellie, a University of Leicester professor of volcanology, this led to glaciers melting and contributed to the end of the last ice age. He made this explanation in a Newsweek article.
Prof. Smellie did, however, acknowledge that a sequence of eruptions "from one or more volcanoes that are currently exposed above the ice," equally enriched in halogens, would be necessary for this kind of environmental impact to occur again.
He added, "Such a scenario is unlikely but not impossible, as the Takahe
study shows."
"It is more likely that at some point in the future, one or more of the
numerous subglacial volcanoes—some of which are known to be active—will
erupt."
Sadly, it's also reasonable to presume that they won't blow up in a welcoming
hail of gold dust.