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Picture Courtesy: https://www.indiatodayne.in/international/story/antarcticas-mount-erebus-volcano-emits-28oz-gold-per-day-986351-2024-04-22

Context: Mount Erebus in Antarctica emits gold dust valued at $6000 daily (around 80 grams), but due to its remote location, the gold is inaccessible, and scientists monitor the volcano using satellites.

Key Highlights

• Mount Erebus, Antarctica's highest active volcano, emits approximately 80 grams of gold daily, which is valued at around $6,000. This gold is carried in volcanic gases during eruptions and can also be found in surrounding snow.
• Gold deposits originate in volcanic rock, and when Mount Erebus erupts, hot gases carry gold particles into the atmosphere.
• Situated on Ross Island, Mount Erebus is one of Antarctica's 138 active volcanoes and is notable for having a rare "lava lake" at one of its summit craters. The volcano's continuous activity since 1972 and its emission of gold highlight its geological significance in Antarctica.
• Despite advancements in understanding Erebus's activity, researchers face logistical challenges in comprehensively studying Antarctica's other active volcanoes. Limited permanent monitoring instruments make it difficult to conduct extensive studies on these remote and icy volcanoes.

Source:

India Today

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