A Volcano Ejecting Gold: An Unprecedented Phenomenon
In the perpetually icy expanse of Antarctica, not all regions succumb to the relentless cold.
A 2017 survey identified a total of 138 volcanoes across the seventh continent. Despite the majority being extinct or dormant, eight to nine Antarctic volcanoes are currently active. One of these, Mt. Erebus, has astounded even the most experienced volcanologists with its behavior.
Mt. Erebus, named after the Greek personification of darkness, stands as the tallest volcano in the Southern Hemisphere, reaching a height of 3,794 meters above sea level. It was discovered in 1841 by British explorer Sir James Clark Ross on Ross Island, alongside two other volcanoes. Since humans first stepped foot on the Antarctic wasteland, only three volcanic eruptions have been documented on the icy continent. However, geological evidence suggests that in the more distant past, particularly during the Pleistocene ice age, which spanned from approximately 2.6 million to 12,000 years ago, the continent experienced a series of massive volcanic eruptions. These eruptions, much larger than any in the modern era, have been proven by ice core samples collected by researchers.
One peculiar aspect of Mt. Erebus is its emission of gold. Analysis of satellite imagery of the crater's rim revealed reddish discolorations, traces of an eruption that occurred in 1972. This mighty volcano continues to regularly emit gas and steam clouds, and occasionally, during more active periods, ejects semi-melted rock fragments known as volcanic bombs. Surprisingly, recent analysis has shown that the volcanic smoke is saturated with tiny gold crystals, smaller than 20 micrometers. Scientists have measured that in a single day, Mt. Erebus can eject an average of 80 grams of gold, valued at approximately 6000 USD.
This gold-laden smoke has been detected by researchers as far as a thousand kilometers from the mountain, a phenomenon now referred to as "Erebus gold."
Mt. Erebus also gained notoriety due to a tragic aviation disaster involving Air New Zealand flight 901 on November 28, 1979. Part of an Antarctic sightseeing tour offered by Air New Zealand, the flight promised passengers an 11-hour journey from Auckland to Antarctica to witness the uninhabited icy landscape from above, before returning to New Zealand. Unfortunately, the plane crashed into the volcano's flank during an attempted low-flying maneuver, disintegrating upon impact. All 257 passengers and crew on board perished in the catastrophe.
This striking interplay of natural wonder and human tragedy underscores the unpredictable and often perilous beauty of our natural world.
Mt. Erebus, named after the Greek personification of darkness, stands as the tallest volcano in the Southern Hemisphere, reaching a height of 3,794 meters above sea level. It was discovered in 1841 by British explorer Sir James Clark Ross on Ross Island, alongside two other volcanoes. Since humans first stepped foot on the Antarctic wasteland, only three volcanic eruptions have been documented on the icy continent. However, geological evidence suggests that in the more distant past, particularly during the Pleistocene ice age, which spanned from approximately 2.6 million to 12,000 years ago, the continent experienced a series of massive volcanic eruptions. These eruptions, much larger than any in the modern era, have been proven by ice core samples collected by researchers.
One peculiar aspect of Mt. Erebus is its emission of gold. Analysis of satellite imagery of the crater's rim revealed reddish discolorations, traces of an eruption that occurred in 1972. This mighty volcano continues to regularly emit gas and steam clouds, and occasionally, during more active periods, ejects semi-melted rock fragments known as volcanic bombs. Surprisingly, recent analysis has shown that the volcanic smoke is saturated with tiny gold crystals, smaller than 20 micrometers. Scientists have measured that in a single day, Mt. Erebus can eject an average of 80 grams of gold, valued at approximately 6000 USD.
This gold-laden smoke has been detected by researchers as far as a thousand kilometers from the mountain, a phenomenon now referred to as "Erebus gold."
Mt. Erebus also gained notoriety due to a tragic aviation disaster involving Air New Zealand flight 901 on November 28, 1979. Part of an Antarctic sightseeing tour offered by Air New Zealand, the flight promised passengers an 11-hour journey from Auckland to Antarctica to witness the uninhabited icy landscape from above, before returning to New Zealand. Unfortunately, the plane crashed into the volcano's flank during an attempted low-flying maneuver, disintegrating upon impact. All 257 passengers and crew on board perished in the catastrophe.
This striking interplay of natural wonder and human tragedy underscores the unpredictable and often perilous beauty of our natural world.
Translation:
Translated by AI
