The Earth is leaking 'Gold' from its core, where 99.999% of the planet's treasure is buried
Earth
's core, a seething ball of metal 3,000 kilometers below our feet, is quietly bleeding
gold
into the surface world.
Scientists have found compelling evidence that Earth's core is not as isolated as previously believed. A recent study reveals that precious metals, including gold, are leaking from the planet's core into the mantle and eventually reaching the surface through volcanic activity.
The research, conducted by a team from the University of Göttingen, focused on volcanic rocks from Hawaii. Using newly developed ultra-sensitive isotopic analysis techniques, the team detected unusually high levels of the ruthenium isotope in these rocks. This particular isotope is more abundant in Earth's core than in its mantle, indicating that the material in the Hawaiian lava originated from deep within the planet.
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"When the first results came in, we realized that we had literally struck gold," said Dr. Nils Messling, a geochemist at Göttingen University. "Our data confirmed that material from the core, including gold and other precious metals, is leaking into Earth's mantle above."
The Earth's core, formed over 4.5 billion years ago, contains more than 99.999% of the planet's gold and other precious metals. These elements were thought to be locked away, inaccessible beneath 3,000 kilometers of solid rock. However, the discovery of ^100Ru in surface rocks suggests that superheated mantle plumes can transport these deep-Earth materials to the surface.
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Professor Matthias Willbold, co-author of the study, emphasized the significance of the findings: "Our findings not only show that Earth's core is not as isolated as previously assumed. We can now also prove that huge volumes of super-heated mantle material, several hundred of quadrillion metric tons of rock, originate at the core-mantle boundary and rise to Earth's surface to form ocean islands like Hawaii."
This revelation challenges long-standing assumptions about the Earth's internal dynamics and the geochemical isolation of its core. It also opens new avenues for understanding the distribution of precious metals on the planet's surface.
While the prospect of accessing the Earth's vast gold reserves remains out of reach, this discovery provides a unique glimpse into the dynamic processes occurring deep within our planet. It underscores the interconnectedness of Earth's internal layers and the ongoing evolution of its geological activity.
The full study, titled "Ru and W isotope systematics in ocean island basalts reveal core leakage," was published in the journal
Nature
on May 21, 2025.
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