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Where should we look for new metals critical for green energy technology? Volcanoes may point the way


Published on 2025-02-11 13:02:52 - MSN
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  • About 400 kilometers northwest of Sydney, just south of Dubbo, lies a large and interesting body of rock formed around 215 million years ago by erupting volcanoes.

The article from MSN discusses the potential of volcanoes as sources for critical metals needed for green energy technologies. It highlights that volcanoes, through their eruptions and geothermal activities, can bring metals like lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements to the Earth's surface. These metals are essential for manufacturing batteries, solar panels, and wind turbines. Researchers are exploring volcanic regions because the geological processes there can concentrate these valuable minerals. For instance, the article mentions that in places like the Salton Sea in California, geothermal brines rich in lithium have been discovered. This approach not only offers a new avenue for sourcing these materials but also could be more environmentally friendly compared to traditional mining, as it leverages natural geological processes. However, the extraction methods from volcanic sources still need to be developed to ensure they are economically viable and environmentally sustainable.

Read the Full MSN Article at:
[ https://www.msn.com/en-us/science/ecology/where-should-we-look-for-new-metals-critical-for-green-energy-technology-volcanoes-may-point-the-way/ar-AA1yQ2kX ]