Pakistan, July 4 -- Scientists remain intrigued by Mount Erebus, Antarctica's southernmost active volcano, which continues to release microscopic gold particles into the atmosphere alongside volcanic gases, a phenomenon that has puzzled researchers for decades.

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Unlike most active volcanoes, Mount Erebus contains a rare, long-lasting lava lake that has remained active for many years. It is also considered the only known volcano in the world that naturally emits tiny crystals of pure gold during volcanic activity.

According to research published in Geophysical Research Letters in 1991, the volcano releases an estimated 80 grams of microscopic gold crystals eve...