In the early stages of its youth, the Earth was partly in fusion.  The heaviest elements, such as iron or nickel, migrated towards the core over several tens of millions of years and drew other heavy metals that had an affinity for iron with them. Given this, why do we still find gold, platinum or palladium on the earth’s surface? Shouldn’t it all have been drawn into the Earth’s centre by the iron?

According to research work conducted by Professor Gerhard Schmidt at Mainz University, in Germany, it is probable that the principal rare metals, such as platinum, gold or iridium, arrived on Earth in iron meteorites. It is even possible that most of this metal was the result of the collision between the Earth and Theia, a little planet the size of Mars, which resulted in the moon being formed.

Professor Schmidt presented his results at the European Planetary Science Congress EPSC) at Munster, Germany, September 21^st to 26^th 2008.

Tags: Gold

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