An Active Volcano Releases Gold Dust Worth $6,500 in Antarctica Daily

Antarctica boasts an active volcanic mountain that releases gases and gold dust. Mount Erebus, the southernmost volcanic mountain in the world throws out £5,040 ($6,500) worth of gold every day, Indy100 reported. The gold from the mountain erupts slowly, which helps it to crystallize. 

Mount Erebus is one of the most ferocious volcanoes in Antarctica, IFL Science reported. Captain Sir James Clark Ross located the volcano in 1841. The structure is placed alongside two other volcanoes on Ross Island. On November 28, 1979, Air New Zealand Flight 901 crashed into Mount Erebus, killing all 257 people onboard. 

Mount Erebus is 3,794 meters (12,450 feet) above sea level, NASA reported. It is an active volcano that is located 35 kilometers away from McMurdo Station. It is situated in a rift zone, an area where the crust is thin enough to facilitate the upward movement of magma through the faults to the surface.

The volcano ejects plumes of gas and steam, IFL Science reported. Scientists have discovered tiny crystals of metallic gold in these gusts of gases. These crystals are no more than 20 micrometers. Over a single day, the volcano releases 80 grams of gold.

The summit crater of the volcano contains a lava lake, which plays an important role in the crystallization of gold, Indy100 reported. The lava hits the colder air, a phenomenon that crystallizes the gold for a few hours before it eventually gets blasted off into the atmosphere. The key to this process is the slow pace with which gold is released from the volcano.

Volcanoes with similar eruptions, releasing gold or any other material oftentimes, erupts so fast that there isn't enough time to crystallize. The gold is spread far and wide from Erebus, Indy100 reported. Researchers found evidence of gold dust 600 miles away from the volcano.