Volcano Built From Ice? Ceres Has It, Researchers Confirm

Known to many, volcanoes are built from lava. But there are more facts humans need to know. For those who once imagined beholding a volcano spewing ice instead of molten rock, know that you are actually close to reality. In Ceres lies Ahuna Mons, a volcano that is actually built from ice. It erupts water instead of magma.

According to Science, Ahuna Mons is an example of a cryovolcano. Cryovolcanoes spew volatiles like water, methane, or ammonia instead of magma. As earlier mentioned, Ahuna Mons possesses such traits. Previous studies suggested that there are hints of cryovolcanoes' existence in Pluto and Titan; however, they have not been proven 100%.

Upon close observation and further studies, associate professor David A. Williams of the Arizona State University's School of Earth and Space Exploration said that Ahuna Mons is "one true mountain on Ceres". Williams is a part of a group of scientists working with NASA's Dawn mission. He specializes in volcanism.

Researchers with NASA'a Dawn spacecraft say that a lack of craters on near surfaces led to an eruption 200 million years ago. Their findings suggest that the melting point for ice were lowered deep underground through the help of salts; hence brines rose up as a cryomagma. There have been various other studies reporting the presence of water ice in Ceres. Ahuna Mons is believed to be the lone cryovolcano built from a salty mud mix.

As of writing, NASA wants Dawn to continue collecting data from Ceres. Currently, it is moving closer to the sun; its closest approach is expected to happen in April 2018. For this, scientists likewise expect that some changes will occur in the surface of Ceres due to solar warmth. A volcanic activity might also be triggered.

According to Space Daily, Ahuna Mons rises 13,000 feet high and its base spreads 11 miles wide. It stands on Ceres, which is less than 600 miles wide. Ceres is the asteroid belt's dwarf planet that revolves around the sun between Mars and Jupiter.