Volcanoes, although notoriously destructive, do have some positive effects.
Everyone is aware of the destructive nature of volcanoes and how much damage can be caused by an eruption. Students everywhere learn about the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in the year 79 in history class. What people might not be aware of, however, is that along with relieving the built-up pressure beneath the Earth's crust, volcanoes produce several products that are beneficial, and potentially valuable, to humans.
Fertilized Farmland
The lava that flows, or sometimes explodes from a volcano hardens over the land nearby. Over time, the cooled lava breaks down and adds nutrients to the soil, acting as fertilizer. This is the reason that many farm regions are located close to volcanoes. The fertile soil, enriched by the minerals found in the volcano, is responsible for giving these crops their unique flavors. Examples of crops grown near volcanoes include grapes and citrus in Italy, coffee in Costa Rica and pineapples in Hawaii.
Geothermal Energy
Volcanoes produce heat. Heat in the presence of liquids creates steam. Specially designed power stations can harness the steam from the high-temperature fluids in a volcano and use it to power turbines that create energy. Even the steam from lower temperature fluids can be used for heating and industrial purposes. Geothermal energy can be harnessed from active volcanoes as well as young volcanoes that are giving off heat. Hawaii and Northern California have already implemented this alternative energy source, and geothermal heat provides heat for more than 70 percent of the homes in Iceland.
Metals and Minerals
Deposits of metals, including gold, silver and iron as well as minerals, are concentrated within the heated depths of volcanoes. These concentrated deposits can erupt with the magma inside a volcano and cool along with the lava. The metals and minerals can then be recovered by mining. This natural process allows people access to deposits that would normally be too deep beneath the Earth's surface to mine.
Gemstones
Much in the same way volcanoes unearth metal and mineral deposits, they also carry precious gemstones, such as diamonds and rubies, to the surface. In addition, peridot, known as the volcano gem, is actually formed in lava. This phenomenon occurs in a specific types of volcanic rock known as basalt.
Nanotechnology
Perhaps the most interesting product to come from volcanoes, carbon nanotubes are specific forms of carbon that can form cylindrical structures known as nanotubes. They are incredibly strong, act as thermal conductors and possess unique electrical properties. These characteristics make carbon nanotubes popular materials in nanotechnology, electronics, optics and even architecture. In order for carbon to form nanotubes, it required a chemical trigger. Scientists have found that volcanic ash is an efficient and inexpensive trigger for this reaction.
