Yellowstone's hidden helium reserves: A "green" energy breakthrough
Scientists have discovered substantial reserves of "zero-emission" helium in Yellowstone, which could help address the global scarcity of this essential gas. Research suggests the potential for extracting helium without emissions of methane.
The Yellowstone region may contain untapped helium reserves that can be employed in rockets, reactors, and superconductors without emitting carbon dioxide. Typically, helium is a byproduct of natural gas. However, researchers are pursuing more environmentally friendly sources to combat global warming. Consequently, they are investigating alternatives in locations such as Yellowstone, the Rukwa Rift in Tanzania, and Bakreswar-Tantloi in India.
What are the conditions for helium extraction in Yellowstone?
Though scientists have been aware of the vast helium reserves in Yellowstone for over a decade, recent studies on ancient rocks in this region and two other areas are inching closer to determining whether this helium can be feasibly extracted. "We are trying to identify how to find helium free of fossil fuels," said Ernest Mulaya, a geologist from the University of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania, in an interview with "Live Science."
The new research, published in the "International Geology Review", focuses on regions that emit concentrated helium without accompanying methane emissions. Though helium is typically a byproduct of natural gas, scientists are seeking more ecological sources to aid in the fight against global warming. "If the temperature surpasses the closure temperature of a specific mineral, helium will be released," explained Jon Gluyas, a professor from Durham University in the UK.
Could Yellowstone be a source of "green" helium?
The research suggests that Yellowstone, akin to Bakreswar-Tantloi in eastern India and Rukwa Rift in southwestern Tanzania, is geothermally active. This means that heat from the Earth's interior reaches the surface, leading to the emergence of geysers and hot springs. Geothermal heat is crucial for producing helium without carbon emissions because it releases helium atoms from deep within the rocks. Helium forms from the decay of uranium and thorium, a process that takes billions of years. These atoms remain confined in crystals within rocks unless subjected to high temperatures.
Jon Gluyas, a professor of geoenergy, carbon capture, and storage at Durham University in the UK, commented on the "Live Science" portal that if temperatures exceed the so-called closure temperature of a specific mineral, helium will be released. Helium then enters fluids such as water or brine flowing between rocks, forming a gas that can migrate underground and rise to the Earth's surface.
The 2016 discovery of helium in Tanzania sparked hopes that similar geological conditions might exist elsewhere and also contain helium reserves free of carbon emissions. Beyond geothermal activity, the Rukwa Rift lies on rocks billions of years old, rich in uranium and thorium, allowing ample time for helium to form.
Helium essential for cooling, among others, in rockets and reactors
It appears that Yellowstone also sits atop ancient, helium-producing rocks. Yellowstone is rooted in the Wyoming Craton, containing rocks approximately 3.5 billion years old, with faults at the edges of the caldera likely creating paths for substantial helium accumulation.
However, it is improbable that a closed reservoir exists beneath Yellowstone. As Gluyas explained, the national park's geology likely facilitates a system of channels through which helium escapes into the atmosphere. Approximately 73 tons of helium leak annually through hot springs and steam vents, as scientists revealed in 2014. Helium is a vital cooling element in rockets, nuclear reactors, superconductors, and diagnostic equipment, but suppliers may soon struggle to meet increasing demand.
Approximately 66 tons of helium leak through hot springs in Yellowstone every year
The main findings of the new study reveal that all three locations exhibit very promising conditions, meriting further research. Results from the helium drilling site near Babbitt suggest that helium production without carbon emissions is feasible, and the helium concentration in the extracted gas could be very high. Mulaya emphasized that the future of helium is promising in addressing current shortages.
