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Scientists recently discovered a new method for being able to trap CO2 gases as solid rock within just two years. It was previously determined in the lab that this this might be possible, but now two-year field tests have confirmed it. The discovery comes from a groundbreaking experiment that was conducted in Washington state. The researchers there discovered that you can inject CO2 (carbon dioxide) into basalt rock, which can then be converted naturally into a stable and solid mineral. 

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Basalt is a very common igneous (volcanic) rock substance that is found on the ocean floor and it's even been discovered on the moon. It contains calcium, iron, manganese, and magnesium. The findings from this current field study are groundbreaking because they could provide another way to reduce much of the CO2 emissions today. And the thought that CO2 might be able to be stored in this way is an exciting possibility to many. The study also adds to a similar experiment that took place earlier this year in Iceland. The researchers in Iceland had dissolved CO2 in water and then injected it into basalt.
### They first thought that it might take thousands of years in order for the CO2 to be transformed into a solid rock formation, but instead it only took them two years. 


Researchers, at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), say that the next step is to prove that they can scale-up in order to store larger quantities of CO2. They would need to investigate that first before they could move forward with any commercialization of the process. 

The researchers at PNNL were interested in investigating whether or not the CO2 would react with the minerals in basalt and they wanted to see if they would eventually form crystals that were limestone-like. After just a few weeks, they saw that the crystallization process was well underway.

pics:
pixabay
Sources:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3951370/Carbon-dioxide-turned-ROCK-just-two-years-researchers-reveal.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basalt
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/news/local/pacific-northwest-national-lab/article117428293.html
http://interestingengineering.com/trapping-co2-stone-offer-energy-hope/
http://www.sciencealert.com/scientists-are-again-turning-co2-into-solid-rock-to-fight-climate-change
http://motherboard.vice.com/en_ca/read/new-method-for-trapping-co2-as-solid-rock-could-help-to-fight-climate-change
http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2016/06/underground-injections-turn-carbon-dioxide-stone