For many years, scientists believed that the Earth’s core was a completely sealed-off zone. During the planet’s early formation, metals like gold, platinum, and iridium– known as siderophile elements– were thought to have sunk into the core because they’re drawn to iron. Since the Earth was molten at the time, these metals naturally settled deep inside, making the core seem unreachable and cut off from the surface.
However, recent findings suggest that some of these metals might actually be making their way up from the core. As per reports, scientists believe that mantle plumes– columns of superheated rock rising from the boundary between the core and the mantle– could be carrying these elements upwards. When these plumes reach the Earth’s crust, volcanic activity may bring this deep material to the surface.