Context:
As per NASA’s Earth Observatory, Mount Erebus is ejecting gold along with other materials from deep within the Earth.
More on the news:
- Gold amount: A recent report by IFL Science reveals that approximately $6000 worth of gold is extracted daily from within the volcano.
- This extraction is carried out by natural forces within the volcano.
- The amount of gold collected each day is estimated to be around 80 grams.
- The gold is emitted in gas pockets by the volcano and is in the form of crystallized gold.
- Gold distribution: Due to this, the gold is dispersed over a wide area, reaching as far as 621 miles away from the volcano.
About Mount Erebus
- It is an active volcano.
- Location: Ross Island, Antarctica.
- Characteristics
Tragic Incident associated with Mount Erebus
- Mount Erebus gained notoriety due to the Mount Erebus disaster.
- This tragedy occurred when an Air New Zealand plane crashed into the volcano, resulting in the loss of 257 lives.
- The crash was attributed to a ‘whiteout’ phenomenon.
- This optical illusion made the snow-covered volcano nearly invisible to the pilot, even though it was daylight and the plane was flying below the clouds.
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- Mount Erebus is the highest active volcano in Antarctica.
- Mount Erebus has an altitude of roughly 3,794 meters (12,448 feet).
- This volcano is classified as a stratovolcano, featuring a cone-shaped structure formed by layers of solidified lava, tephra, and volcanic ash.
- First Observation: Its eruption was first observed by Captain Sir James Clark Ross in 1841.
- Mount Erebus has remained known for its frequent and violent eruptions.
Antarctica region
- Antarctica is a cold and isolated region.
- Location : Southern Hemisphere, encircled by the Antarctic Convergence.
- The Antarctic Convergence is a boundary where cold Antarctic waters meet warmer ocean waters, covering approximately 20% of the Southern Hemisphere.
- Features:
- The dominant feature of Antarctica is the Antarctic Ice Sheet.
- The Antarctic ice sheet is the largest single mass of ice on Earth.
- Extension of Ice sheet: This ice sheet extends beyond the continent, especially during extreme snow and ice conditions.
- Mountain Summits: Antarctica is home to various mountain peaks, including the Transantarctic Mountains, dividing the continent into eastern and western regions.
- Human Presence and Claims:
- Antarctica lacks a native human population, and there are no countries within its territory.
- Prior to the Antarctic Treaty of 1959, seven countries made claims to Antarctic land, although the treaty doesn’t legally recognize these claims.
- This treaty applies to the region from 60°S latitude to the South Pole.
- Number of volcanoes: A total of 138 volcanoes have been identified in the region.
- Out of these, 809 are classified as active.
- The remaining volcanoes are considered dormant
April 25, 2024