Taupo: gold in the heart of a volcano
The treasures in geothermal wells are mind-boggling!
In the volcanic zone of Taupo, geologists found six large gold deposits.
According to experts, the extraction of the precious metal in this region of the island has enormous economic potential and is capable of generating profits of up to $3 billion per year.
In the photo: Taupo is both a volcanic zone and Lake Taupo in the North Island of New Zealand.
Geophysicists from the USA and New Zealand investigated the geothermal wells of the volcano and analyzed the concentration of gold in its waters. They stated that the precious metal amount is 0.02 milligrams per liter of liquid.
The richest gold reserves are contained in several underground reservoirs of the Taupo volcanic zone. Scientists explain that the precious metal got into the water heated by magma during volcanic eruptions and settled on the walls of its wells.
In the photo: the geothermal waters of the Taupo volcano that has been active for the past two million years.
Experts note that it is currently impossible to exploit these gold deposits. The main problem lies in the fact that there’s a lack of safe and efficient technology for extracting gold from the geothermal springs of the volcanic zone. In addition to that, Lake Taupo remains one of the largest freshwater reservoirs of the island. Gold mining activities can have a negative impact on local environment and tourism.
The gold deposits in the heart of the Taupo volcano are just a fragment of the treasures hidden in the bowels of our planet. In the depths of the Earth, there are truly colossal reserves of this precious metal. Do you want to know more about them? Then read our article “Gold storage in the depths of the Earth” and immerse yourself in the amazing world of geological discoveries.
