Mount Erebus in Antarctica emits microscopic gold particles

Mount Erebus, the world’s southernmost active volcano on Ross Island, continuously releases tiny crystals of elemental gold. Satellite monitoring and ground samples show the volcano emits roughly 80 grams of microscopic gold dust each day, which can be carried by volcanic gases for up to 1,000 kilometres.

Researchers from the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology analyzed snow, gas plumes and distant atmospheric samples, finding gold particles up to about 60 µm that form nearly perfect geometric crystals. The gold likely travels in volatile chlorinated or sulfur‑bearing compounds before crystallising as the gases cool, a process not observed at other volcanoes.