Research reveals a new way to understand where and how gold is formed. And France could extract several tons of it.
A recent discovery threatens to shake up the world of geology by changing the way we understand how gold is formed and rises to the Earth’s surface. A group of international researchers has developed an innovative model that reveals how gold is transported from the Earth’s mantle to volcanic rocks on the surface.
For the first time, research has provided a reliable model for understanding where and how gold is formed, allowing us to discover new deposits without having to go too far and avoid expensive and often fruitless prospecting operations. The researchers used laboratory simulations to replicate the extreme conditions in which magma forms. They discovered that subduction zones, where one Earth plate can slide under another, play a crucial role in bringing magma to the surface, carrying sulfur-rich fluids that are then needed to form gold-bearing magma. It turns out that this process is very active in the Pacific Ocean, where many volcanoes are present.
France ready to become a new gold superpower
The discovery of the processes that allow gold to rise to the surface through volcanic areas opens up interesting scenarios for the future of geology and those nations that are investing heavily in gold exploration. Among these we find France which, together with China, Switzerland and Australia, is one of the nations that collaborates most in the search for gold deposits. With this new discovery, France could be the nation that will benefit the most. The islands of Martinique and Réunion, belonging to France and historically with very rich volcanic activity, could hide enormous gold deposits estimated at several billion euros that have not yet been discovered. The exploitation of these resources could not only revolutionize the local economy, but also position France as a new superpower in the gold sector.
The study still requires further research to allow the full potential of this discovery to be exploited. Understanding these processes could transform the mining industry by allowing the exploitation of previously inaccessible gold deposits and reducing dependence on expensive and invasive methods.
In parallel with this discovery, new technologies could emerge that can extract gold in a more environmentally friendly way and at lower economic costs. The ability to predict the location of gold deposits and extract them more efficiently is something that could have enormous repercussions on the global economy.
On the one hand, new deposits never explored before could be discovered that could change the economic fortunes of a country. On the other hand, the ability to predict would allow for more sustainable and environmentally friendly extraction, preventing many research activities based on drilling and mining excavations that could then prove fruitless.
It would be a real turning point that would bring the world of geology into a new era.
Original article published on Money.it Italy 2025-01-02 22:28:00. Original title: Questo Paese europeo sta per diventare la nuova super-miniera di oro
