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Earth's Core Leaking Rare Helium-3: Potential for Nuclear Fusion

  • 31 Oct 2023

In a groundbreaking revelation, scientists have recently uncovered evidence suggesting that Earth's core may be leaking the rare and valuable element known as helium-3.

Key Points

  • High Levels of Helium-3 Discovered: Unusually high levels of helium-3 have been detected in volcanic rocks on Baffin Island, Canada, as revealed in a study published in the journal Nature.
  • The rocks also exhibited elevated levels of neon-22, another rare isotope, implying that these materials originated from a deep source, potentially Earth's core itself.
  • Origins and Trapping of Helium-3: The origins of helium-3 within the Earth trace back to the big bang, which released significant amounts of hydrogen and helium, influencing galaxy formation.
  • Helium from solar nebula, which emerged 4.5 billion years ago is believed to have become trapped within Earth's core, transforming it into a reservoir for noble gases.
  • Over time, helium-3 appears to have seeped from the core through cracks or mantle plumes, gradually making its way to the surface via magma plumes and eventually erupting on Baffin Island.
  • Olivine crystals within the lava preserved the helium originating deep within the Earth.
  • Slow and Insignificant Leakage: Estimates suggest that merely about 0.1 grams of helium-3 escape from the core annually.
  • Unique Properties of Helium-3: Helium-3 is scarce on Earth due to limited production and addition of significant quantities to the planet. It is also lost to space over time.
  • Helium-3 is a noble gas that does not react with other elements, and it lacks harmful effects on Earth's chemistry, climate, living organisms, or radiation levels.
  • Potential for Nuclear Fusion: While the leakage of helium-3 from the core doesn't harm the planet, it holds significant potential for science and technology.
  • Helium-3 is an ideal fuel for nuclear fusion, a process that can yield clean and abundant energy without harmful neutron emissions.
  • Harnessing nuclear fusion with helium-3 has been challenging due to its scarcity. The Earth has around 15 tons of helium-3, mostly trapped in natural gas deposits.
  • The leakage of helium-3 from the core could offer a new source of this valuable element, potentially making nuclear fusion more feasible, addressing global energy needs, and shedding light on Earth's origins and core evolution.