Earth’s Core: A Leaky Treasure Chest of Gold and Precious Metals?

For centuries, gold has captivated humanity with its allure and value. But where does this precious metal come from? New research suggests a surprising origin: the Earth's core. A study published in Nature reveals evidence that our planet's core is “leaking” gold and other valuable metals, challenging previous assumptions about the core's isolation. This groundbreaking discovery not only sheds light on the origins of gold found on the Earth's surface but also offers insights into the formation of volcanic islands like Hawaii.

The Journey from Core to Surface

The vast majority (99.9%) of Earth's gold is believed to be hidden within the core, thousands of miles beneath the surface. However, scientists have long puzzled over the presence of gold in the Earth's mantle and crust. The new study, led by Nils Messling from Göttingen University, provides compelling evidence that some of these metals migrated from the core. By analyzing volcanic rocks from Hawaii, the researchers detected traces of ruthenium, a platinum group metal. Messling stated, "When the first results came in, we realised that we had literally struck gold! Our data confirmed that material from the core, including gold and other precious metals, is leaking into the Earth's mantle above."

Unlocking the Secrets of Earth's Formation

According to Jun Korenaga, Professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences at Yale University, metals like gold arrived on Earth during its formation, approximately 4.5 billion years ago, through supernovae events and collisions with other celestial bodies. These metals were initially part of the "late accretion," the final 1% of planetary growth. However, this doesn't fully explain the presence of accessible gold today.

Korenaga's research suggests that a thin, transient part of the mantle allows metallic components to be retained. As rocks crashed onto early Earth, heavy metals sank into a localized liquid magma ocean. When this molten area solidified, it captured the metals. These metals then re-emerged to the Earth's surface through mantle convection, where hotter mantle material rises, offsetting the compositional density.

Hawaii's Volcanic Connection

The study highlights the relationship between core leakage and the formation of regions like Hawaii. Hawaii is believed to be sitting on a deep mantle plume of super-heated rock. According to Matthias Willbold, co-author of the study, "Our findings not only show that the Earth's core is not as isolated as previously assumed but we can now also prove that huge volumes of super-heated mantle material originate at the core-mantle boundary and rise to the Earth's surface to form ocean islands like Hawaii." Another example is the rifting of Africa, which may be driven by a similar mantle plume.

What Does This Mean for Us?

This remarkable discovery profoundly alters our understanding of our planet's inner workings. It reveals that the Earth's core is not a sealed vault, as previously believed, but a dynamic source that has contributed to the distribution of precious metals throughout the planet. As Korenaga suggests, when we look at gold, we should remember its extraordinary origins and the crucial details it holds about the formation of our planet.

What implications does this discovery have for future resource exploration? Could we eventually be able to tap into other resources originating from the Earth's core? Share your thoughts and insights in the comments below!

• Earth's Core
• Gold
• Hawaii