Deep beneath Hawaii’s volcanic islands, scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery that challenges our understanding of the Earth’s core. A recent study published in Nature found evidence of ancient metal signatures in basalt samples from various locations across Hawaii, including Kaua’i and Kīlauea Iki lava lake. The researchers discovered elevated levels of ruthenium-100, a rare isotope associated with deep planetary formation.
Led by Nils Messling, the team analyzed volcanic rock samples using new isotopic analysis techniques that enabled them to distinguish between previously indistinguishable isotopes. They found a chemical fingerprint in the rocks that resembles the elemental profile of Earth’s core, where precious metals like gold and platinum are believed to reside. The study suggests that these metals may not be permanently trapped at the core as previously thought.
The researchers focused on ocean island basalts, which form from mantle plumes – columns of hot rock rising from deep within the Earth. They found elevated levels of ε-100Ru in these samples, indicating a connection between the core and the surface. The findings confirm that “huge volumes of super-heated mantle material” originate at the core-mantle boundary and rise to Earth’s surface.
The study raises fresh questions about how core-mantle interactions may have shaped the chemical composition of the Earth’s surface over billions of years. It provides a rare glimpse into the deep Earth, where metals from the core may be interacting with the mantle. The discovery has significant implications for our understanding of the planet’s architecture and evolution.
Key findings:
* Elevated levels of ruthenium-100 found in Hawaiian volcanic rock samples
* Chemical fingerprint resembling the elemental profile of Earth’s core
* Evidence suggests that precious metals like gold and platinum may not be permanently trapped at the core
* Mantle plumes play a role in transporting materials from the core to the surface
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Source: https://dailygalaxy.com/2025/05/earths-core-is-leaking-gold-and-scientists-just-found-it-in-hawaii