Drilling beneath the Topaz Project site near Babbitt, scientists confirmed the presence of helium-3. A concentration of 14.5 parts per billion was found in the lab tests, which was similar to what was measured in Apollo samples. The discovery could be a game-changer for the future of clean energy and was led by exploration company Pulsar Helium. Geochemist Dr. Peter Barry at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution conducted gas analyses, which revealed the site in Minnesota to be one of the most unexpected helium-3 reservoirs ever found. Helium-3 was one of the rarest substances on Earth and was found at trace levels in the atmosphere.
Atypical Helium Found Beneath Minnesota Soil
The decay of tritium in nuclear weapons and reactors created most terrestrial helium-3 and was supplemented by small amounts trapped in natural gas fields. The magnitude of the resource found in Minnesota’s new reservoir was much larger than what was seen in Earth’s atmosphere. “We are thrilled to announce this remarkable helium-3 discovery,” said Thomas Abraham-James, President and CEO of Pulsar Helium, according to Earth.com. The resource fetched roughly $9 million per pound, which was 100,000 times the cost of common helium. The resource was rationed for programs, like neutron detectors and cryogenics working at low temperatures, by U.S. agencies.
Pulsar announces Helium-3 discovery at Jetstream #1
https://www.elyecho.com/article/3632,pulsar-announces-helium-3-discovery-at-jetstream-1