Many Helium gas mines were discovered with huge reserves, not worried about exhausting energy

Helium is the second most abundant element in the universe but is quite rare on Earth and is at risk of exhaustion. However, a new study led by Durham University Professor Diveena Danabalan suggests that there may be many new Helium sources in the western mountains of North America with huge reserves.

Discovered many Helium mines with large reserves

First discovered in the Sun's spectrum a century ago and this gas has become an important component in our technology world.Helium is used in many areas such as super welding technology, MRI scanning, semiconductor manufacturing, welding technologies, diving and being closer to us than in balloons and balloons.

The problem is that although Helium accounts for almost a quarter of the total matter in the universe, it is very rare on Earth and the main source of this natural gas comes from a gas field in North America. Helium is a very light element and once released into the air, it will fly upwards and lose into space. Hydrogen is lighter but very popular on Earth because Hydrogen can be obtained in molecules of water or organic compounds. Reverse helium does not form compounds and it has only a few unstable parts that are mostly produced in laboratory conditions.

Helium is abundant in the universe but is quite rare in Earth

Recent studies have shown a sharp decline in Helium reserves and scientists have yet to find alternative sources. Faced with concerns about Helium being exhausted someday, typical scientists such as Peter Wother from Cambridge University have proposed banning the use of Helium to pump bubbles at parties.

In the new study, a group of scientists from Durham University and Oxford looked for areas with natural gas deposits in North America where they sampled gas from 22 wells in the US and Canada to measure spectra. By analyzing the isotopes of Helium, Neon and Argon, they were able to better understand how Helium was created, transformed and stored on Earth.

Helium has eight isotopes, common on Earth, Helium-4 (4 He), produced by radioactive decay activity deep underground. Over hundreds of millions of years, Helium has invaded the Earth's crust and was released outside during tectonic cycles. By comparing the ratio of 4He and Neon-20 (20Ne) isotopes in Helium-rich areas called Hugoton and Panhandle throughout Texas to Oklahoma and Kansas, the team discovered that Helium released Is dissolved in groundwater and converted into gas-deposited ores. Thus, this mechanism shows that Helium reserves on Earth are actually much larger than what we think.

Helium is the second most abundant element in the universe

Danabalan said: "The trace of Neon isotope shows a strong connection between Helium and groundwater. This means in certain geological areas, groundwater brings a large amount of Helium to the gas fields. However, where the potential for deposition is greatest, it suggests that we may have underestimated the actual exploitation of Helium. "

She added: "We have discovered the process of releasing Helium after hundreds of millions of years deep underground. In some places like the Yellowstone reserve at Wyoming, Helium is released directly into the atmosphere In some other regions, Helium is released when the Rocky Mountains are formed and the amount of Helium dissolves in the groundwater and is transported to the currently Helium wells. This means there will be many new Helium wells that we do not know yet, the most important thing is that understanding how Helium is brought to these reserve wells will help us to find the sources. Where is the new Helium storage? "