A new study concludes that an extinct volcano off the coast of Portugal could store 1.2-8.6 gigatons of carbon dioxide, equivalent to the country's 24-125 years of industrial emissions. Doing so would rely on a method known as "mineral carbonization in situ", which works when CO2 from the air is pumped deep into the ground. Calcium, magnesium, and iron, after entering the bowels of this extinct volcano, react with incoming carbon dioxide to form calcite, dolomite, and magnesite, trapping CO2 in a rocky prison forever. Doing this at Fontanelas volcano, 60 miles off the Portuguese coast, offers many advantages. First, the mountainous nature of the volcano will facilitate drilling compared to other in-situ mineral carbonization drilling projects. Second, volcanic basalt contains high levels of iron, magnesium and calcium. Thirdly, it is close to the coast and does not occupy land in the country. "We know that most countries, including Portugal, are making efforts to decarbonize the economy and our human activities, this is a message that this could be one of the means of solving the problem," says Ricardo Pereira, a geologist at the NOVA School. Science and Technology and co-author of the study. Using available data from dredging and drilling by seismologists and oil exploration scientists, a joint American-Portuguese team of scientists, publishing for the Geological Society of America, found that the rocks of Fontanelas volcano contain high levels of carbonate; In situ carbonization was already occurring naturally. USES MORE VOLCANS The Perfect Source of Energy Is Already Here - Infinite Geothermal Preparing to Release From the Depths of the Earth Also, the dredged rocks were 40% porous, meaning there was a high amount of space for CO2 injection. The authors suggest that there are other submarine volcanoes that countries can use as CO2 storage. SHARE This Discovery With Great Potential In The Emission Race With Your Friends… Gotopnews.com