Scientists have discovered that extinct volcanoes may be a valuable source of rare earth elements, which are crucial for modern technology. Rare earth elements (REEs) are used in products such as smartphones, electric cars, wind turbines, and even military equipment like missiles. These elements are in high demand, and finding new sources could help meet the growing need for them.
A new study by researchers from the Australian National University (ANU) and the University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences suggests that the iron-rich magma inside extinct volcanoes could be full of these elements. The study was published in Geochemical Perspectives Letters.
The researchers explain that extinct volcanoes are volcanic mountains that will not erupt again. Unlike dormant volcanoes, which could become active after long periods of rest, extinct volcanoes are considered to be done erupting for good. For example, Mount Thielsen in Oregon hasn’t erupted for around 300,000 years, so scientists consider it extinct.
In their study, the researchers simulated volcanic eruptions in a laboratory by heating rocks similar to those found in extinct volcanoes. They used a special furnace to heat the rocks to extremely high temperatures, between 800 to 1150°C, which melted the rocks. This allowed them to study the minerals and elements trapped inside. They found that the iron-rich magma in extinct volcanoes is much better at concentrating rare earth elements than the magma from active volcanoes. In fact, this type of magma could be up to 100 times more effective at gathering these important metals.
Some of the key rare earth elements found in these extinct volcanoes include lanthanum, cerium, and neodymium. These elements are vital for the production of renewable energy technologies, such as wind turbines and electric vehicle batteries. While rare earth elements are not actually rare, they are hard to extract from the minerals in which they are found. This makes it expensive and difficult to get them in large quantities.
Dr. Michael Anenburg from ANU, one of the study’s authors, said that although we have never seen iron-rich magma erupt from an active volcano, extinct volcanoes, which are millions of years old, did produce this special type of magma. Anenburg suggested that volcanoes like El Laco in Chile, an extinct volcano, could be a rich source of rare earth elements.
As the world focuses more on renewable energy, the demand for these rare earth elements is expected to increase rapidly. Some estimates suggest that the need for rare earth elements could increase five times by 2030. Countries like China, Sweden, and Australia already have significant rare earth deposits. Australia, in particular, has large reserves and could play a key role in the global supply of these metals, helping to meet the demand for cleaner energy technologies.
This research provides new hope that extinct volcanoes could be an important, untapped source of the rare earth elements needed to power the technology of the future. Scientists are now considering ways to explore these ancient volcanoes for their valuable resources.
