Now Reading: Earth’s core leaks gold into mantle, Hawaii rocks show
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Earth’s core leaks gold into mantle, Hawaii rocks show
A study by the University of Göttingen has found traces of ruthenium in Hawaiian volcanic rocks that came from Earth's metallic core, proving material is crossing the core-mantle boundary. Published in Nature…
The Story in Brief
A study by the University of Göttingen has found traces of ruthenium in Hawaiian volcanic rocks that came from Earth's metallic core, proving material is crossing the core-mantle boundary. Published in Nature in 2025, the research examined basalts from Kilauea and other sites. The core holds over 99.999 per cent of the planet's gold and precious metals, locked 3,000 km deep.
The team, led by Dr Nils Messling, used improved chemical methods to detect subtle isotopic differences. The findings do not mean gold can be mined; any core contribution in lava is minute after mixing. Professor Matthias Willbold said huge volumes of mantle rock from the core boundary rise to form ocean islands like Hawaii. The leak's scale and timing remain unknown.
The Indian Opinion
The breathless coverage of 'gold leaking from Earth's core' plays into fantasies of instant wealth. The study confirms a tiny isotopic signal in Hawaii, not a bonanza. Any dilution makes mining it laughable. The real drama is geological: the core is less sealed than assumed. Watch for future studies on how widely this leak occurs. If only Réunion shows no signal, is Hawaii a fluke or a sign of deeper movement?
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
