Researchers Found an Abundance of Helium In Canada's Baffin Island (nature.com) 39
Long-time Slashdot reader thepacketmaster writes: Documented in a recent article in the journal Nature, researchers have found an abundance of both helium-4 and helium-3 trapped in the volcanic rocks on Canada's Baffin Island.
As the Earth formed, it is thought that helium-4 and helium-3 flowing on the solar wind became trapped in the minerals of the cooling planet. With heavier elements and minerals sinking to the bottom, this trapped helium was transported to the core, where it would have remained locked in its original forms.
Earth isn't massive enough to hold on to helium in any significant quantities, though. Any that did not get trapped, or that was subsequently released when the minerals melted in the mantle or due to massive impacts, would have eventually seeped up to the surface and floated off into space. So, helium is relatively rare on Earth, and helium-3 is even more so.
As the Earth formed, it is thought that helium-4 and helium-3 flowing on the solar wind became trapped in the minerals of the cooling planet. With heavier elements and minerals sinking to the bottom, this trapped helium was transported to the core, where it would have remained locked in its original forms.
Earth isn't massive enough to hold on to helium in any significant quantities, though. Any that did not get trapped, or that was subsequently released when the minerals melted in the mantle or due to massive impacts, would have eventually seeped up to the surface and floated off into space. So, helium is relatively rare on Earth, and helium-3 is even more so.
Article abstract only writes about He3/He4 ratio (Score:2)
So what total amount of Helium being newly found are we talking about, and how much of it is within economic reach?
Re: (Score:3, Informative)
The article full-text seems to be pay-walled, while the abstract does not mention large total quantities of Helium, just high ratios of He3/He4. So what total amount of Helium being newly found are we talking about, and how much of it is within economic reach?
Here's the data link: EarthChem Library: View Dataset [earthchem.org]
Re:Article abstract only writes about He3/He4 rati (Score:5, Informative)
None.
Nature isn't a mining industry magazine, it's a scientific journal. The authors are arguing that their result indicates helium can get to the surface from the core, thus not all the helium we find near the surface needs to have existed in the mantle since the Earth was formed.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
I should have said helium 3. The helium 4 is mostly from radioactive decay. The helium 3 is apparently mostly primordial. That's why the paper talks about the ratio between them.
Here's an open paper that discusses it:
https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.... [wiley.com]
Re: Article abstract only writes about He3/He4 rat (Score:2)
*talks in a high voice* I don't get what all the concern is about? Why are you guys laughing?
Re: (Score:2)
*inhales some argon with resulting deep voice*
Because nature has altered its deal. *hoh* *hah*
Pray it does not alter it further.
Re: (Score:1)
helium from radioactive decay (Score:2)
The notion that terrestrial helium was trapped from primordial solar winds is a new one to me. Quoting https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helium [wikipedia.org]:
Re: (Score:2)
I believe they're conflating the posited origin of helium 3 with that of helium in general.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/... [wikipedia.org]
Re: (Score:2)
"We argue that the extremely high-3He/4He helium in these lavas might derive from Earth’s core", they said, squeakily.
What about the moon? (Score:2)
Hey smart people. Why would the Helium float away from the earth, but not the moon?
Re:What about the moon? (Score:4, Funny)
Because cheese is denser than helium.
Re:What about the moon? (Score:4, Informative)
Re: (Score:3)
Re:What about the moon? (Score:4, Funny)
All that lunar helium is what keeps the moon floating high up in the sky!
Re: (Score:1)
I knew it was rigged! [i.redd.it]
Re: (Score:3)
Same reason why your wooden log floats on the top of water, but lies down on the ground. Relative density. There's no atmosphere on the Moon, so relative density of helium vs near absolute vacuum of space, it behaves like a wood log on the ground. It lies on the surface.
But on Earth, there's much more dense atmosphere of primarily nitrogen. So it floats on top of it and gets blown off the edge of the atmosphere by the solar wind.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:3)
There are warmer places on the surface of the Moon - for part of each Lunar day/ t
Trace amounts or commercial amounts? (Score:3)
Re: (Score:2)
If Canada is smart they'll be very careful with how they handle the situation?
Re:Trace amounts or commercial amounts? (Score:5, Funny)
Re: (Score:2)
Then that would be the "not smart" option.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2, Funny)
Re: (Score:2)
Is he a native?
Re: (Score:2)
To recognize the Helium-3 is an expression of gratitude and appreciation to those whose territory you reside on, and a way of honoring the Indigenous people who have been living and working on the Helium-3 from time immemorial. It is important to understand the long standing history that has brought you to reside on the Helium-3, and to seek to understand your place within that history. Helium-3 acknowledgments do not exist only in a past tense, or historical context.
Re: Trace amounts or commercial amounts? (Score:2)
How much environmental destruction will you enclose the commons for, so idiots can fill party balloons?
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
> so idiots can fill party balloons?
Helium-3 is used in a process called nuclear fusion that combines the Helium with a substance called Deuterium. When the two are combined, energy is produced, but no harmful waste is created.
Re: (Score:2)
At least I learn of this from Mobile Suit Gundam where humanity have these stupendous large He3 tankers going to and back from Jupiter.
Re: (Score:2)
We plan to use it for world domination of course... Bow before your new Helium-3 overlords.
Anyone who refuses to drink beer, eat poutine, or play hockey will be put out on an ice floe.
Re: (Score:2)
Anyone who refuses to drink beer, eat poutine, or play hockey will be put out on an ice floe.
It does take a lot of beer before poutine starts looking edible.
Re: (Score:2)
Who cares if it looks edible, you just eat it. French fries (or freedom fries, is that still a thing?), cheese curds and gravy. Honestly the hard part is deciding if you want the gravy to melt the cheese to give you that cheese pull, or to make the fries delicious and salty while the cheese curds squeak.
I mean, if you're going to dunk on the best foods
Re: (Score:2)
A rapidly melting ice floe.
Is it level enough for me to put in an outpost? (Score:1)