Researchers at Germany’s University of Göttingen have made a groundbreaking discovery in volcanic rock samples from Hawaii, detecting traces of gold and other precious metals believed to have leaked from deep within the Earth’s core, as per Fox News.
The study, led by Dr. Nils Messling from the university’s Department of Geochemistry, analyzed rock that erupted from beneath the lithosphere. The surprising results revealed the presence of rare elements, including gold and ruthenium, hinting at a direct connection between the Earth’s metallic core and volcanic activity on the surface.
“When the first results came in, we realized that we had literally struck gold,” said Dr. Messling in a statement. “Our data confirmed that material from the core, including gold and other precious metals, is leaking into the Earth’s mantle above.”
Approximately 99% of Earth’s gold is buried deep—around 1,800 miles—within its metallic core, making it virtually inaccessible. The volcanic samples studied contain ruthenium isotopes chemically tied to gold, a strong indicator that the material originated from the core-mantle boundary.
Professor Matthias Willbold, a co-author of the study, explained the wider implications: “Our findings not only show that the Earth’s core is not as isolated as previously assumed. We can now also prove that huge volumes of super-heated mantle material—several hundreds of quadrillion metric tonnes—originate at the core-mantle boundary and rise to the Earth’s surface to form ocean islands like Hawaii.”
The key breakthrough came from newly developed techniques for measuring subtle differences in isotopes of ruthenium—distinctions previously too small to detect. The researchers say these techniques allow scientists to trace the source of certain elements with far greater accuracy.
While the long-term significance of the discovery is still being explored, the presence of core-derived materials at the surface could offer insight into Earth’s internal processes and its geologic evolution. It may also reshape understanding of the origins of vital elements used in technology and renewable energy.
“Whether these processes we observe today have also been operating in the past remains to be proven,” added Messling. “Our findings open up an entirely new perspective on the evolution of the inner dynamics of our home planet.”
