 |
|
Geologists point to outer space as source of the Earth's mineral riches
October 19, 2009TORONTO, ON - According to a new study by geologists at the University of Toronto and the University of Maryland, the wealth of some minerals that lie in the rock beneath the Earth's surface may be extraterrestrial in origin.
"The extreme temperature at which the Earth's core formed more than four billion years ago would have completely stripped any precious metals from the rocky crust and deposited them in the core," says James Brenan of the Department of Geology at the University of Toronto and co-author of the study published in Nature Geoscience on October 18.
"So, the next question is why are there detectable, even mineable, concentrations of precious metals such as platinum and rhodium in the rock portion of the Earth today? Our results indicate that they could not have ended up there by any known internal process, and instead must have been added back, likely by a 'rain' of extraterrestrial debris, such as comets and meteorites."
Geologists have long speculated that four and a half billion years ago, the Earth was a cold mass of rock mixed with iron metal which was melted by the heat generated from the impact of massive planet-sized objects, allowing the iron to separate from the rock and form the Earth's core. Brenan and colleague William McDonough of the University of Maryland recreated the extreme pressure and temperature of this process, subjecting a similar mixture to temperatures above 2,000 degrees Celsius, and measured the composition of the resulting rock and iron.
Because the rock became void of the metal in the process, the scientists speculate that the same would have occurred when the Earth was formed, and that some sort of external source - such as a rain of extraterrestrial material - contributed to the presence of some precious metals in Earth's outer rocky portion today.
"The notion of extraterrestrial rain my also explain another mystery, which is how the rock portion of the Earth came to have hydrogen, carbon and phosphorous - the essential components for life, which were likely lost during Earth's violent beginning."
University of Toronto
Geologists have long speculated that four and a half billion years ago, the Earth was a cold mass of rock mixed with iron metal which was melted by the heat generated from the impact of massive planet-sized objects, allowing the iron to separate from the rock and form the Earth's core. Brenan and colleague William McDonough of the University of Maryland recreated the extreme pressure and temperature of this process, subjecting a similar mixture to temperatures above 2,000 degrees Celsius, and measured the composition of the resulting rock and iron.
Because the rock became void of the metal in the process, the scientists speculate that the same would have occurred when the Earth was formed, and that some sort of external source - such as a rain of extraterrestrial material - contributed to the presence of some precious metals in Earth's outer rocky portion today.
"The notion of extraterrestrial rain my also explain another mystery, which is how the rock portion of the Earth came to have hydrogen, carbon and phosphorous - the essential components for life, which were likely lost during Earth's violent beginning."
University of Toronto
Precious Metals Current Events and Precious Metals News RSSMetals could forge new cancer drug
Drugs made using unusual metals could form an effective treatment against colon and ovarian cancer, including cancerous cells that have developed immunity to other drugs, according to research at the University of Warwick and the University of Leeds.
Half-baked asteroids have Earth-like crust
Asteroids are hunks of rock that orbit in the outer reaches of space, and scientists have generally assumed that their small size limited the types of rock that could form in their crusts.
Fuel from food waste: bacteria provide power
Researchers have combined the efforts of two kinds of bacteria to produce hydrogen in a bioreactor, with the product from one providing food for the other.
Palladium and platinum an easier find with Pitt researcher's detection method
Finding uses for palladium and platinum--rare precious metals coveted by the automobile, chemical, and pharmaceutical industries as catalysts in chemical reactions-proves easier than finding the scarce materials themselves.
Study: Inhabitants of early settlement were desperate to find metals
A new study provides evidence that the last inhabitants of Christopher Columbus' first settlement desperately tried to extract silver from lead ore, originally brought from Spain for other uses, just before abandoning the failed mining operation in 1498. It is the first known European extraction of silver in the New World.
The mysterious case of Columbus's silver ore
Silver-bearing ore found at the settlement founded by Christopher Columbus's second expedition was not mined in the Americas, new research reveals.
Undersea Vehicles to Study Formation of Gold and Other Precious Metals On the Pacific Ocean Floor
An international team of scientists will explore the seafloor near Papua New Guinea in the western Pacific Ocean later this month with remotely operated and autonomous underwater vehicles, investigating active and inactive hydrothermal vents and the formation of mineral deposits containing copper, gold and other commercially valuable minerals.
Electronic equipment gets a second life
As of next year, electronics manufacturers in Europe will be required to take back and partially recycle old equipment. Beginning in 2006, electronics must be completely lead-free. An industry conference in Berlin sheds light on how companies can meet these regulations.
Oxford University Fuel Cell Invention Wins Innovator of the Year Award
Researchers from Oxford University's Chemistry Department have won one of the three categories in the Carbon Trust Innovation Awards with their vision for sustainable energy provision.
Power stations threaten people and wildlife with mercury poisoning
Nairobi, 3 February 2003 - Mercury poisoning of the planet could be significantly reduced by curbing pollution from power stations, a new report released by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) suggests. The report, compiled by an international team of experts, says that coal-fired power stations and waste incinerators now account for around 1,500 tons or 70 percent of new, quantified man-made mercury emissions to the atmosphere. The lion's share is now coming from developing countries with emissions from Asia, at 860 tons, the highest. "As combustion of fossil fuels is increasing in order to meet the growing energy demands of both developing and developed nations, mercury em
More Precious Metals Current Events and Precious Metals News Articles
 |
Precious Metals Investing For Dummies (For Dummies (Business & Personal Finance)) by Paul Mladjenovic (Author) In recent years, metals have been among the safest and most lucrative investments around, but they are not entirely risk free. Before you begin investing or trading in metals, you need authoritative information and proven investment strategies. You need Precious Metal Investing For Dummies. This straightforward guide eases you into the precious metals market with sound advice on trading and owning these profitable investments, including gold, silver, platinum, and uranium, as well as high-demand base metals such as zinc and copper. You’ll learn how to research their market performance and choose among an array of proven trading plans and strategies. Plus, you’ll get savvy advice on how to choose a broker, buy stocks and futures that involve metals, maximize your investment... |
 |
Rich Dad's Advisors: Guide to Investing In Gold and Silver: Protect Your Financial Future by Michael Maloney (Author) "Throughout the ages, many things have been used as currency: livestock, grains, spices, shells, beads, and now paper. But only two things have ever been money: gold and silver. When paper money becomes too abundant, and thus loses its value, man always turns back to precious metals. During these times there is always an enormous wealth transfer, and it is within your power to transfer that wealth away from you or toward you." --Michael Maloney, precious metals investment expert and historian; founder and principal, Gold & Silver, Inc. The Advanced Guide to Investing Gold and Silver tells readers: The essential history of economic cycles that make gold and silver the ultimate monetary standard. How the U.S. government is driving inflation by diluting our money supply and... |
 |
Portable Wealth: The Complete Guide to Precious Metals Investment by Adam Starchild (Author) None of us wants to watch our hard-earned money go up like paper in the wind. Open this book and discover how precious metals can add weight and substance to your investment portfolio in a time when very little is considered solid or certain. It could be worth its weight in gold. |
|
Precious Metal by Precious Metal | |
 |
Recovery And Refining Of Precious Metals (Gemology) by C.W. Ammen (Author) This new edition is a thorough revision of C.W. Ammen's bestselling work (often referred to as the Precious Metal Bible), a complete and practical guide to recovering, testing, extracting, and refining precious metals, from both primary and secondary sources. This text is written in a clear, simple manner and based on the author's own experience as a professional chemist and metallurgist. |
 |
Introduction to Precious Metals by Mark Grimwade (Author), Tim McCreight (Editor), Michael Deles (Editor) Creative work in the studio can benefit from an understanding of materials and processes, but too often the worlds of science and art are unable to share information. This book bridges the gap through clear language spoken by a metallurgist with several decades of teaching experience. Through hundreds of charts, tables, and graphs, the author explains the intricacies of work-hardening, annealing, and alloying. This is a serious book for people who understand the value of technical information. |
 |
The Collapse of the Dollar and How to Profit from It: Make a Fortune by Investing in Gold and Other Hard Assets by James Turk (Author), John Rubino (Author) The dollar is in trouble. Its value on foreign exchange markets has been falling for the past six years, and now its gradual decline is about to become a rout. This spells big trouble for the American economy—but potential riches for smart investors. In The Collapse of the Dollar and How to Profit from It, financial gurus James Turk and John Rubino show how the dollar arrived at this precipice, why it will continue to plunge, and how you can profit from the resulting financial crisis. The United States today is the world’s biggest debtor nation. To finance this mountain of debt, we’re flooding the world with dollars. The resulting oversupply of dollars will cause its value to decline until it is displaced as the world’s dominant currency. Precious metals will soar in value,... |
|
Precious Metal by Precious Metal | |
 |
Dragotsennye Metally Dragotsennye Kamni = Precious Metals Pr by East View Information Svcs Inc An English and Russian-language publication covering the state, problems and prospects of the Russian market of precious metals and precious stones, jewelry and other items made from them. |
 |
Art Clay 10-Gram 650/1200 Low Fire Metal Clay, Silver by Art Clay 650/1200 Low Fire Clay 10g package. Fire as low as 1200ºF! Great for use with glass and sterling silver. Resealable mylar packaging. Can also be fired with a butane torch or gas stovetop. During firing this clay shrinks between 8-9%. Gas stovetop and torch firing methods are acceptable. |
| © 2009 BrightSurf.com |