Earth’s Core May Be Leaking Gold Toward the Surface, Says Study

On Tuesday, a new study sparked controversy as it claimed the presence of a vast hidden reservoir of gold buried deep within Earth’s core may be slowly making its way to the surface.

For decades, scientists have known that Earth's metallic core also holds significant amounts of precious elements like gold and platinum. 

But the latest findings suggest that this treasure trove may not be as permanently locked away as once thought.

Geophysicists examining high-pressure reactions between core and mantle materials have found that certain chemical exchanges could allow gold and other heavy elements to “leak” from the core into the mantle to Earth’s crust. 

The findings challenge long-standing assumptions that such elements were entirely trapped during Earth’s early formation.

The key lies in the movement of liquid metals and their interactions with silicate rocks at extreme temperatures and pressures. 

As Earth continues to cool and shift, small amounts of these metals may be drawn upward in processes that mirror volcanic activity.

"This changes how we think about the Earth's deep interior and the cycling of elements," said one of the lead researchers. 

"There may be a dynamic exchange occurring that slowly delivers these precious metals toward the surface."

While this doesn’t mean we’ll be mining gold directly from the core anytime soon, the research helps explain why gold and other rare elements are found in surprisingly rich deposits in the crust—far more than models of early Earth formation can account for.

The implications extend beyond geology. Understanding these elemental movements could refine how we search for natural resources, and even how we think about planetary formation on other worlds.

Further studies are planned to confirm how widespread this leakage process is and how much gold might still be on the move beneath our feet.