Un zăcământ uriaş de aur a fost descoperit la 700 de metri adâncime în ocean, în apropierea coastei Japoniei

Researchers have discovered unprecedented concentrations of 'invisible gold' in pyrite on the seabed of the Higashi-Aogashima volcanic caldera in Japan. This gold is trapped within the crystal structure of pyrite, known as 'fool's gold', and could represent one of the most promising underwater gold deposits. The findings, published in 'Scientific Reports', raise concerns about the ecological risks of exploiting fragile marine ecosystems. The gold concentration can reach up to 1.9% in specific pyrite crystals, but this does not indicate the average concentration across the entire deposit. Further sampling is needed to assess the economic potential of this site, which is attracting interest due to its relatively shallow depth compared to other underwater deposits. However, mining could irreversibly damage unique biological communities around hydrothermal vents.