News Earth

Steam bubbles carry gold and sulfur up from Earth’s depths

Mechanism explains how metals rise in magma

Droplets

BUBBLING UP  Tiny droplets (white semicircles) from a dense mixture of sulfur and metal (glob at bottom) can float upward in magma reservoirs on the undersides of steam bubbles (black circle), new research suggests.

J.E. Mungall et al.

By Thomas Sumner

- More than 2 years ago

Dense mixes of sulfur and metals such as gold and copper can catch a lift to the top of magma reservoirs on the undersides of rising steam bubbles, new research suggests.