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Researchers from the University of Göttingen analyzed volcanic rocks from Hawaii and identified rare signs of ruthenium, an element associated with the Earth’s core, reinforcing the hypothesis that gold and precious metals may have been slowly escaping from the Earth’s depths for billions of years through superheated plumes that cross the mantle and reach regions near the surface
A scientific discovery of great impact was presented on May 21, 2025, and caught the attention of geologists worldwide.
Researchers identified signs that the Earth’s core may be releasing small amounts of gold, ruthenium, and other precious metals into the planet’s upper layers.
The study, published in the journal Nature, analyzed volcanic rocks from Hawaii and brought a new perspective on the Earth’s internal dynamics.
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This result reinforces a hypothesis discussed for about 40 years: that the Earth’s core would not be completely isolated from the mantle.
Investigation in Hawaiian rocks reveals rare clue
The discovery was led by researchers from the University of Göttingen, in Germany, with the participation of geochemist Nils Messling.
According to the study, the team analyzed dark basaltic rocks from Hawaii, formed by magma plumes that rose from the planet’s depths. These samples revealed the presence of ruthenium, one of the rarest elements on Earth.
However, the most important detail was in the type of ruthenium found. According to the researchers, the isotopic composition of this element did not match known meteorites or common mantle materials.
Therefore, the team concluded that the material may have come from a much deeper region: the boundary between the core and the mantle.
How gold got trapped in the Earth’s center
During the planet’s formation, about 4.5 billion years ago, Earth was practically molten. During this period, heavy elements, such as gold, platinum, and ruthenium, sank towards the center.
For this reason, more than 99.95% of the planet’s precious metals remained trapped in the Earth’s core. Afterward, the crust cooled and solidified.
Also during this period, meteorites rich in precious metals hit Earth billions of years ago and contributed to the presence of these materials in the crust and mantle.
Even so, scientists needed to differentiate the origin of these elements. The analysis of ruthenium was essential to indicate that part of the material found in Hawaiian rocks did not come solely from the surface or from ancient meteorites.
Deep plumes can carry precious metals
The Earth’s core has a solid inner part, formed mainly by iron and nickel, with a radius of about 1,221 kilometers. The outer core, on the other hand, is liquid and is surrounded by the mantle, which extends for thousands of kilometers below the crust.
At the boundary between the core and the mantle, intense heat can generate giant plumes of superheated rock. These plumes rise slowly and can transport traces of heavy metals to volcanic regions.
According to co-author Matthias Willbold, this process helps explain the formation of oceanic islands like Hawaii. Thus, the analyzed volcanic rocks function as a kind of natural archive of the Earth’s deep interior.
Discovery does not mean easy-to-explore gold
Despite the research’s impact, this possible leakage does not represent a new accessible source for mining. The amount of gold related to the core is extremely small in the studied rocks.
The Earth’s core is far beyond current human drilling capabilities. The deepest point ever drilled, the Kola Superdeep Borehole in Russia, is still very far from this internal region.
Therefore, the discovery is primarily of scientific value. It helps researchers understand how the Earth’s interior evolves and how deep materials can circulate over millions of years.
A mystery that still challenges geologists
Although the study provides strong evidence, scientists still don’t know exactly how the core and mantle interact.
According to Messling, the densities of these layers are very different, almost like oil and water. Even so, the signals found in Hawaiian rocks suggest that some kind of exchange occurs.
This process can take between 500 million and 1 billion years to complete. At the same time, researchers believe it may have been happening since the earliest periods of Earth’s history.
The discovery changes the view of the planet
Experts like Helen Williams from the University of Cambridge and Jesse Reimink from Pennsylvania State University highlighted the study’s relevance.
For them, the results reinforce the possibility that the core contributes some material to the mantle. Thus, the research opens a new window to understand the planet’s internal evolution.
It is still unknown how much gold can reach the surface or how long this transport takes. However, the discovery shows that Earth remains much more dynamic than it seemed.
If small amounts of precious metals can escape from the core over billions of years, how many other secrets are still hidden in the planet’s depths?
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