• UGI USER
  • May 01, 2024
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ANTARCTICA’S VOLCANO EJECTS GOLD CRYSTALS WORTH RS 5 LAKH DAILY

Why in the news?

Mount Erebus, Antarctica’s active volcano, releases 80 grams of gold daily, valued at nearly Rs 5 lakh, into the atmosphere.

source:wikisource

About the Volcanic Gold Showers:

  • Mount Erebus, one of the world’s most active volcanoes, expels approximately 80 grams of gold into Antarctica’s cold atmosphere daily.
  • This daily gold emission is valued at nearly Rs 5 lakh, offering a unique phenomenon of nature’s riches.
  • Apart from gold crystals, the volcano emits gases, steam, and volcanic bombs, owing to its position above a thin crust.
  • The minuscule gold crystals, measuring up to 20 micrometres, disperse far and wide, with traces detected up to 1,000 kilometres away.
About Mount Erebus:

  • Active Volcano: Mount Erebus, located on Ross Island, Antarctica, is an active stratovolcano.
  • Height: It stands approximately 3,794 metres (12,448 feet) tall, making it Antarctica’s highest active volcano.
  • Formation: Features a cone-shaped structure formed by layers of solidified lava, tephra, and volcanic ash.
  • Discovery: Captain Sir James Clark Ross first observed its eruption in 1841.
  • Activity: Known for frequent and violent eruptions, Mount Erebus remains an active geological phenomenon.

About Antarctica region:

  • Location: Southern Hemisphere, bounded by the Antarctic Convergence.
  • Antarctic Convergence: Meeting point of cold Antarctic waters and warmer ocean waters, covering 20% of the Southern Hemisphere.
  • Features: Dominated by the Antarctic Ice Sheet, the largest mass of ice on Earth.
  • Ice Sheet Extension: Extends beyond the continent during extreme snow and ice conditions.
  • Mountain Summits: Home to peaks like the Transantarctic Mountains, dividing the continent.
  • Volcanoes: 138 identified, with 809 active and others dormant.