A Volcano In Antarctica Erupts $6,000 Worth Of Gold Every Day
Antarctica is one of the most mysterious and coolest places on Earth, literally! It’s a frozen land where penguins are the real kings, and ice goes on forever.
What’s really crazy is that Antarctica actually rains gold! A Volcano there actually spews out gold. That’s right, $6,000 worth of gold every day. The reason? It’s all thanks to Mount Erebus, the world’s southernmost active volcano. Talk about a hot spot for treasure!
Antarctica’s Volcanoes
Antarctica has around 138 volcanoes. Nine of them are still active, according to a 2017 study. These active volcanoes include Mount Erebus, which stands at 12,448 feet.
How Erebus Got Its Name
Captain James Clark Ross’s 1841 exploration of Antarctica resulted in the discovery of the Volcano. His expedition also resulted in noteworthy magnetic surveys across the Arctic and Antarctic, along with the discovery of Antarctica’s Ross Sea and Victoria Land region. His ship was named the ‘HMS Erebus,’ which is where Mount Erebus got its name.
Captain James Clark Ross
Mount Erebus is one of three volcanoes comprising Ross Island. Apparently, it was erupting when it was first discovered during Captain James Clark Ross’s 1841 exploration. Imagine stumbling upon a volcano and its erupting as you do!
Volcano Monitoring
The Mount Erebus Volcano Observatory continuously monitors the volcano. Scientists do fieldwork in search of extreme life forms. McMurdo Station, run by the United States, is positioned approximately 25 miles to the south and is the largest Antarctic outpost.
Volcanic Bomb
A volcanic bomb is a mass of molten rock ejected from a volcano during an eruption. These projectiles are typically semi-liquid when expelled and can vary in size, ranging from small pebble-sized fragments to large boulders. As they travel through the air, volcanic bombs cool and solidify, often developing aerodynamic shapes due to their motion and viscosity.
Spraying Gold
Although volcanic bombs certainly grab attention, what really astonishes scientists are the bursts of gas spraying minuscule metallic gold crystals. Estimates suggest that the volcano emits approximately 80 grams of gold each day, valued at around $6,000.
Gold Location
Gold particles have been discovered hundreds of miles away from Mount Erebus! Antarctic scientists detected traces of the precious metal in the air as far as 621 miles away from the volcano’s location.
Subglacial Volcanoes
Underground volcanos? Yeah, Antarctica has that too. Beneath Antarctica’s icy surface lie numerous subglacial volcanoes whose eruptions can significantly impact the ice and global climate patterns.
Volcanic Ash
Despite the remote location of the icy continent, volcanic ash from Antarctic eruptions can travel super far away. This has the potential to affect air traffic and climate systems in distant regions of the globe.
Deception Island
Deception Island is one of Antarctica’s most famous volcanic features. The island is an active caldera that has scientific research stations. It also attracts tourists who brave its rugged terrain and natural wonders.
Volcanic Ice Caves
Antarctica’s volcanic activity creates unique ice caves formed by melting caused by volcanic heat. These caves provide scientists with valuable insights into microbial life and climate history. They also look spectacular!
Volcanic History
Studying Antarctica’s volcanic history through ice-core samples allows scientists to reconstruct past eruptions and their environmental impacts. This provides valuable data for understanding Earth’s geological processes and climate dynamics.
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