Scientists have found out that the hot springs, geysers, and other hydrothermal bodies at the Yellowstone National Park are becoming outlets for the different kinds of gases to seep out of the Earth and into the Park's surface.
A study carried out by the U.S Geological Survey, found out that the gas found in the Park contain traces of neon, carbon dioxide, helium, methane, argon, and steam. USGS researchers have been sampling carbon dioxide, helium, and other gases from the Park for more than ten years and drew isotopic analysis of the gases.
One of the gases found, helium is the most prevalent element in the whole universe, and it occurs in two forms, as Helium 4, an isotope with two neurons and two protons, and as Helium 3, an isotope with a single neuron and two protons. The Park shows relatively higher amounts of Helium 3, and according to scientists, this could be evidence that the gas seeping out the hydrothermal system of the park originated from deep within the Earth's mantle.
However, the Helium 4 found in the Park came from a more complicated source. The researchers discovered that the Helium-4 may have originated from a pocket of an ancient crust from the Archaean eon, and this rock contained traces of radioactive materials that have been decaying since 2.5 billion years ago. The decay of these materials allowed Helium-4 to start building up slowly. Then, a couple of million years ago, the hotspot underneath the Yellowstone Park pierced these rocks and started the release of the pent-up Helium-4.
According to the Smithsonian Magazine, the results of this study may have important implications as to the groundwater system that may have existed millions of years ago. The researchers postulated that the higher amounts of helium-4 documented, the longer time the water has been stagnant around the rocks that surround it.
Another theory regarding the source of the helium is that it could be from the gases emitted by the supervolcano beneath the Yellowstone Park. This volcano's last eruption was 640,000 years ago, and residents living the Park's periphery are anxious to know if it's going to erupt again anytime soon.
This study was published in the Feb. 19 issue of Nature.
