‘Gateway to Earth’s vast gold reserves’: German scientists reveal hidden precious metal worth trillions

Scientists at the University of Gottingen in Germany have conducted new research revealing that precious metals like gold and ruthenium are slowly making their way from deep inside the Earth to its surface through volcanic activity. By studying lava from Hawaiian volcanoes such as Kīlauea and Lo‘ihi, the team detected chemical signatures showing traces of core material in the eruptions. While only tiny amounts reach the surface, the Earth’s core is thought to contain up to 30 billion tons of gold, worth roughly €2.77 trillion, meaning even microscopic leaks provide a remarkable glimpse into the planet’s richest and most inaccessible layers.The research suggests that the Earth’s core holds vast quantities of gold. Although only trace amounts reach the surface in lava flows, these isotopic signals offer scientists a rare view into the planet’s deepest layers. “We’re talking about traces, not nuggets,” says Matthias Willbold, a co-author of the study. While we cannot mine the core with current technology, the findings help researchers understand Earth’s composition and the processes shaping its interior over billions of years.To track these deep-Earth materials, researchers focused on ocean island basalts, volcanic rocks formed by hot mantle plumes rising from near the Earth’s core. Ruthenium, a metal concentrated mostly in the core, acts as a chemical fingerprint. Elevated levels of the 100Ru isotope in lava indicate that even a fraction of less than 0.3% of core material can reach the surface. This provides strong evidence that the core is not fully isolated from the rest of the planet as previously believed.Even though the quantities reaching the surface are minuscule, the discovery changes our understanding of the Earth’s interior. Trace elements from the core may slowly mix with the mantle and crust over millions of years, influencing volcanic chemistry and the makeup of surface rocks. This subtle exchange creates a long-term feedback system connecting the innermost layers of the planet to its outer crust.Volcanoes are not just dramatic landscapes, they are also windows into the deep Earth. Hotspots in Hawai‘i, La Réunion, and the Galápagos allow scientists to study how core-derived materials travel through the mantle. By comparing lava samples from multiple sites, researchers can refine models of how Earth’s layers form, interact, and evolve over billions of years.The study also has implications for other planets. If Earth’s core leaks isotopes through volcanic plumes, similar processes could be happening on Mars or Venus. Understanding these patterns may explain certain chemical features and surface formations on other rocky planets, offering valuable clues for future planetary exploration.