Although the Antarctic continent is defined by glaciers and freezing temperatures, it is home to many volcanoes. Mount Erebus, located west of Antarctica’s Ross Island, is the southernmost active volcano in the world. The mountain amazes scientists not only with lava columns and gas clouds, but also by scattering gold dust.
Erebus, one of the four volcanoes that make up Ross Island, has been continuously active since 1972. However, one feature that makes it unique and priceless is that it metallic gold crystals Containing gases that carry Although a study conducted in 2017 found a total of 138 volcanoes in the region, Mount Erebus quite different from others.
Features of Mount Erebus
It was discovered in 1841 and has an altitude of 3,794 meters. Mount Erebus, Antarctica’s crown It is considered. One at its peak lava lake This volcano has fascinated observers since 1972. Mount Erebus, named after Erebus, the god of darkness in Greek mythology, regularly spews gas and steam. In the past “volcanic bombs” It even threw semi-molten rocks called rocks.
However, one of the features that makes Mount Erebus unique is the presence of microscopic gold crystals in the gases it erupts. Average 80 grams per day scattering gold dust This volcano functions as if it were an open-air mine. The value of gold dust scattered daily is estimated at approximately $6,000. These precious dusts can spread up to 1,000 kilometers with the wind.
Disaster on Mount Erebus
In addition to its magnificent silhouette and constant lava eruptions, Erebus is unfortunately also remembered for a disaster. On November 28, 1979, a plane taking off from New Zealand crashed into the mountain, unable to see the volcano due to fog and white smoke, resulting in this tragic accident. 257 people lost their lives. After this incident, New Zealand had to stop flights to Antarctica.
Photos recorded by state-of-the-art cameras reveal the cause of the accident. “white out” explains its effect as; In other words, it is caused by a snow-white visual obstruction caused by the combination of weather conditions such as snow and blizzard. This effect caused the mountain to become invisible to the pilots and caused an accident.
The flight was planned as an 11-hour sightseeing flight from Auckland to Antarctica. However, the flight continued despite cloudy weather conditions and as a result, all 257 people on board lost their lives in the tragic accident.
According to BBC news, the pilot Captain Jim Collinsattempted to land the plane at an altitude of 610 meters (2000 feet). However, during the maneuver, just before 13:00, the aircraft Crashed into the slope of Mount Erebus and probably everyone on the plane died at that moment.
Rescuers later noticed that some passengers’ cameras still contained intact film. In this way, some photographs taken a few seconds before the moment of the accident were obtained. Photos showed that the cause of the accident ruled out the possibility that the volcano was hidden by thick clouds. The cause of the accident was covered in ice The mountain becomes invisible in plain light and it was determined that the pilot confused the mountain with ice and snow.
Gold Dust Spill from Mount Erebus
According to the news compiled by IFL Science, Erebus’ oddities are not limited to this. The mountain literally sprays gold!
The discovery that the gas inside Erebus is loaded with tiny metallic gold crystals is truly surprising. It is estimated that the volcano spews approximately 80 grams of gold every day, producing gold worth $6000 daily. According to the findings of the researchers, gold dust spreads over a very wide area and traces of gold are found in the ambient air extending up to 1,000 kilometers from the volcano.
This unique feature of Mount Erebus is truly dazzling. It is impressive to see that even the elements of nature, which are considered the most deadly and destructive, can contain unexpected beauty and riches. Erebus’s golden spray shows once again how complex and full of surprises nature is.
However, it is also important to consider the environmental impacts of this situation and the economic or scientific benefits of gold sputtering. This feature of Erebus could be an interesting research topic for scientists and the mining industry. However, protecting and sustainably managing such natural resources is also an important issue.
Despite its sad history, the nature and history of Mount Erebus still remains a mystery to scientists. This volcano, with its golden feature and mysterious structure, reminds us that even the most remote corners of the world can contain unexpected beauties and secrets.
About the topic ”10 Conspiracy Theories About Antarctica” For the article named CLICK!
To join our WhatsApp group CLICK!
