Science Daily·4 min read·hard
Earth’s hidden “gold kitchen” lies beneath the seafloor
✦AI Summary
Geologists have identified that island arcs act as 'gold kitchens' where mantle melting processes concentrate precious metals. By analyzing volcanic glass from the Kermadec island arc, researchers found that specific subduction zone conditions are responsible for higher gold enrichment compared to other regions.
Earth's hidden "gold kitchen" may be operating far beneath the ocean floor. Island arcs, chains of volcanoes that develop above subduction zones where one oceanic plate descends beneath another, are often unusually rich in gold. Scientists have debated for years why these regions become so enriched.
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