We know that the Earth has an inner core, a middle part called the mantle and an outer part called the crust. The inner core is located 2900 km below the surface of the earth. The inner core has a liquid outer part and a solid inner part called the core. Now a new study has come out. There is a structure that covers this inner core like a blanket. The structure also has mountains 5 times the height of Everest in some parts. Samantha Hansen, a geology researcher at the University of Alabama in the US, and her team are behind the study.
The team conducted the study by evaluating seismic waves at 15 locations in Antarctica. Last year, computational studies by scientists showed that ancient and rare helium gas was ejected from the Earth’s inner core after the Big Bang explosion that led to the origin of the universe. This gas, known as Helium-3, was created 13.8 billion years ago during the Big Bang explosion.
Through the Big Bang explosion
This study has shown that there is a large source of helium 3 in the Earth’s core. Helium 3 is considered to be an isotope form of the element helium. A normal helium nucleus has two neutrons. But Helium 3 has only one. Helium 3 makes up only 0.0001 percent of the total helium on Earth. The decay of tritium, a nuclear isotope of hydrogen, also results in the production of helium 3. But the Big Bang explosion is the main reason for this gas to enter the solar system.
It is known that about 2 kg of helium 3 gas is emitted from the earth every year. This is a very small amount. Scientists say that helium-3 was once readily available on Earth. Scientists also believe that a massive object hit the Earth 400 million years ago, which caused this gas to be lost in a large amount from the Earth. It is also argued that the moon was created in this thunderbolt.
Helium in lunar soil 3
However, the lunar surface soil contains significant amounts of helium-3. It is estimated that 1 million tons of helium 3 can be found here
Last year, scientists also discovered that rust affects the inner core. This is the first such discovery in an iron-nickel alloy. Rust occurs in iron when exposed to water or humid air. Scientists have shown in laboratory experiments that the corrosion process can occur when iron is brought into contact with a mineral containing hydroxyl at high pressure.
Scientists have said that the same is the case with the Earth’s inner core and the second core, the mantle.
Corrosion in the core is also promising to provide information about the Great Oxygenation Event that occurred on Earth 2.5 billion years ago. Scientists say that such corrosion could also lead to large oxygen production events in the future. It will allow oxygen to reach the atmosphere in a big way. Scientists are planning to conduct more studies on this topic.
English Summary: underground-mountains-earth-core-research
#Mountains #Times #Everest #Earths #Core #Study
2023-09-17 10:10:56
