Erebus: The Antarctic volcano showering the air with gold dust

Erebus, an active volcano in Antarctica, emits golden dust daily. As reported by the New York Post, experts estimate that it throws out about 80 grams of crystallized gold daily, estimated at close to £4,900. However, golden dust is not all that Erebus emits. Reaching it is not easy.

Erebus is situated off the coast of East Antarctica, on Ross Island, and is considered the most active volcano in Antarctica and, at the same time, the southernmost active volcano on Earth. Erebus was discovered in 1841 by the Scottish explorer James Clark Ross, and its summit, at an elevation of 3,794 metres above sea level, was first reached in 1908 by the Welsh-Australian geologist Edgeworth David on the Nimrod Expedition.

The volcano, on whose summit, in the crater, there is a lava lake, regularly throws gas plumes and steam into the air. It is also known that during eruptions, it can emit so-called volcanic bombs. These are pyroclastic materials with a spindle-like shape. The size of such bombs varies. Some of them are several metres long, and their mass reaches 200 tonnes. However, this is not what attracts the attention of scientists the most. They have discovered that Erebus emits golden dust every day.

According to researchers, the volcano releases small gold crystals no larger than 20 micrometres in diameter daily. Erebus is estimated to emit about 80 grams of gold per day, which is estimated at £4,900. The IFL Science service also points out that scientists have detected traces of gold in the air surrounding volcanoes even at about 1,000 kilometres from them.

This means that the crystals hover in the air and cover impressive distances. Gold is dispersed in the air, and its recovery is not economically sensible. However, it's not ruled out that a method will be developed in the future that will make it not only real but also profitable.

Although other volcanoes can also emit gold, Mount Erebus is unique in emitting it in metallic form, which puzzles researchers. One theory suggests that the metal crystallizes in the hard crust on the surface of the lava lake, as highlighted by the Focus service. As it explains, "the gas emitted from it is relatively slow, allowing the gold grains to grow for several hours before the gas takes them into the atmosphere."