Inside a special volcano, researchers discovered the rock to be rich with 'rare earth elements' that are found in iPhones and renewable energy technologies.
Stock image: View from the top of Hverfjall volcanic crater in Lake Myvatn region in Northern Iceland.Researchers from the Australian National University and the University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences discovered a rich source of precious metals inside a rare type of extinct volcano.
Some rare earth elements are “at risk due to geological scarcity, geopolitical issues, or trade policies,” according to an infographic. Given our growing dependency on these vital metals, i.e., they make up our iPhones, the discovery of iron-rich magma within extinct volcanoes could offer a new way to source these in-demand metals, according to a new press release.
“The question was why, was this just a geological lucky strike, or is there something inherent about iron-rich volcanism that makes them rare earth rich?” Once melted, they examined the minerals using electron microscopes, an electron probe micro analyzer, and a laser ablation-induced coupled plasma system, Dr. Anenburg toldThese tools support trace element concentration studies and isotope ratios, determining which elements and how much of the periodic table a sample contains.
Energy &Amp Environment Geology Metals Rare Earth Metals Volcano
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