Marathon Fusion claims mercury-to-gold transmutation via nuclear fusion

US-based startup Marathon Fusion has announced it successfully converted mercury into stable gold using neutrons generated through nuclear fusion. The company claims its conversion rate is approximately ten times higher than rates associated with 2025 CERN experiments.

The process involves the isotope mercury-198, which interacts with energetic neutrons to become mercury-197, eventually decaying into stable gold-197. While the company has projected that a gigawatt-scale fusion power plant could potentially produce two tonnes of gold annually as a byproduct, commercial fusion technology does not yet exist.

Significant technical hurdles remain. The company has not yet provided independently verified data regarding the total amount of gold produced or the full costs involved. Additionally, the resulting material may contain radioactive isotopes, potentially requiring 14 to 18 years of controlled storage before it can be safely handled. Mining giant Anglo American is among the company's investors.