Geologists Discover Green Way to Access Minerals
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A recent study that was published by an international team of scientists, in the Nature Communication journal explains that copper, nickel, cobalt as well as platinum elements can be transported away from the Earth’s mantle through magma in carbon dioxide bubbles.
This team of scientists, who found out that carbon dioxide played a critical role in making minerals that are used in green technologies more accessible for mining, also discovered that carbon dioxide transported these metals into the upper crust, where they could form into bigger ore deposits.
The geoscientists come from different prestigious institutions such as the Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre, University of Western Australia, University of Leicester, University of Milan, Universidad de Granada, Yale University as well as ETH Zurich. The results of the study were concluded after isotopic, textural and geochemical information of the rocks was obtained from a range of different variations from various parts of the world.
The data enabled them to identify that particular magma types produced a carbon dioxide fluid in the mantle under the earth’s crust, which attracts sulphide liquid drops.
To elaborate further, the carbon dioxide fluid, which is less dense as compared to the magma, rises while transporting the metals, which are rich in sulfide. As the carbon dioxide and sulphides near the surface, they break apart with the carbon dioxide dissipating, leaving no traces of it in the earth’s upper crust. The research team provided evidence that shows the presence of sulfide and carbonate in the rocks located in the crust, which backs up their findings.
The lead author of the study, Daryl Banks, stated recently that despite carbon dioxide being portrayed as a negative in relation to global warming and on a much larger scale, climate change, it had a positive light in this context, providing minerals that are vital for clean energy and the world’s future. He also added that the discovery might aid in easier ways of exploring for other mineral deposits in the earth’s mantle, allowing a broader view of locations that may contain these minerals that had not been previously considered.
In conclusion, carbon dioxide plays a crucial role in carrying metals from the earth’s mantle and is also involved in the forming of deposits in the magma that are rich in metals which are utilized in various ways. It would be interesting to hear what possible applications mining entities like Bullfrog Gold Corp. (CSE: BFG) (OTCQB: BFGC) (FSE: 11B) may put the newly found information about how carbon dioxide helps in bringing minerals closer to the surface of the earth.
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