FILE-Image of Mount Erebus Volcano, Ross Island, Antarctica. (Photo by DeAgostini/Getty Images)
Antarctica, home to hundreds of active volcanoes, is also home to one that spews gold dust with a monetary value.
Mount Erebus, known as one of the most intense and southernmost active volcanoes on Earth, is estimated to release approximately 80 grams of gold daily, valued at about $6,000, as reported by IFL Science.
### Gold Dust Phenomenon
Scientists have discovered that the volcano’s gusts of gas contain tiny crystals of metallic gold, leading to the spewing of gold dust.
Gold dust from Mount Erebus can travel significant distances, with researchers detecting traces of gold in the air up to 621 miles away from the volcano.
### Geological Attributes of Mount Erebus
Situated above a thin slice of crust, Mount Erebus allows molten rock to rise easily from Earth’s interior, contributing to its constant activity.
According to NASA, the volcano regularly emits plumes of gas and steam, and occasionally expels rock (bombs) in strombolian eruptions.
### Monitoring and Research
Mount Erebus, overlooking the McMurdo research station on Ross Island, has a lava lake in the summit crater that has remained active since 1972.
Due to its remote location, researchers monitor Mount Erebus using satellites, as reported by the Smithsonian Institute.
This story was reported from Washington, D.C.
