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Rocks Could Help US Bury Global Warming

Scientists find 6K square miles that could absorb carbon

By Kevin Spak, Newser Staff

Posted Mar 9, 2009 2:55 PM CDT

(Newser) – Could the high-tech solution to global warming be… rock formations? Geologists have identified roughly 6,000 square miles of large formations in the US that could be used to store excess carbon dioxide, LiveScience reports. Ultramafic rocks, which originate deep beneath the earth, convert carbon dioxide into hard minerals. Typically this process is extremely slow, but scientists have devised methods to speed it up.

“It offers a way to permanently get rid of carbon-dioxide emissions,” said one scientist working on the issue. The report mapping the US’ ultramafic rocks is “a really big step forward,” said one of the researchers who originated the mineral sequestration idea. He’s hoping for a similar global mapping effort to find more storage areas.

Could rock formations solve global warming? (Getty Images)

Could certain rock formations solve the global warming problem? (Shutterstock)

Certain rock formations might be able to permanently store carbon dioxide. (Shutterstock)

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Showing 2 of 2 comments

Doctor-Zaius

Mar 10, 2009 6:04 AM CDT

Funny, there's an awful lot of scientists spending a lot of time trying to fix something that according to college drop-outs Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity isn't happening... Maybe those scientists know something that those undereducated bloviators don't know. Ya Think?

Guest

Mar 10, 2009 3:18 AM CDT

Control human population. At least humans are thinking beings. I think...

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Rocks Could Help US Bury Global Warming

Scientists find 6K square miles that could absorb carbon

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Expert warns that CO2 has triggered 1,000 years of change

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Device in the works sucks greenhouse gas from the air

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Rocks Could Help US Bury Global Warming

Scientists find 6K square miles that could absorb carbon

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

carbon dioxide • global warming • geology • carbon emissions • ultramafic rocks

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

EPA Declares CO2 a Pollutant

Agency can regulate greenhouse gases under Clean Air Act

EPA Move to Curb Carbon Trumps Copenhagen

Regulation of greenhouse gasses will have more immediate impact

Centuries of Trouble Already Locked In by Warming

Expert warns that CO2 has triggered 1,000 years of change

CO2 Catcher Could Slow Climate Change

Device in the works sucks greenhouse gas from the air

High Costs Put Clean Coal on Back Burner

Plans to scrub coal-plant emissions hit money wall

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Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

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More News

What is Newser?