This post was originally published on this site.Scientists at the United States Geological Survey (USGS) have discovered that some metal-rich rocks recovered from the deep ocean can spontaneously combust when exposed to air and processed, raising unexpected safety concerns for a potential new mining industry. The finding follows a 2022 research expedition to the Escanaba Trough, off the Oregon–California border, where two of 57 hydrothermal rock samples ignited during laboratory processing. The reactions generated temperatures exceeding 100°C and completely oxidized the original material, according to a study published in Nature’s Scientific Reports. “The production of heat through exothermic reactions has...
October 14, 2026October 14, 2026
