An estimate of the gold and platinum created by the merger:
The neutron star merger event is thought to result in a kilonova, characterized by a short gamma ray burst followed by a longer optical “afterglow” powered by the radioactive decay of heavy r-process nuclei. Kilonovae are candidates for the production of half the chemical elements heavier than iron in the Universe. A total of 16,000 times the mass of the Earth in heavy elements is believed to have formed, including approximately ten Earth masses just of the two elements gold and platinum.
An estimate of the gold and platinum created by the merger:
The neutron star merger event is thought to result in a kilonova, characterized by a short gamma ray burst followed by a longer optical “afterglow” powered by the radioactive decay of heavy r-process nuclei. Kilonovae are candidates for the production of half the chemical elements heavier than iron in the Universe. A total of 16,000 times the mass of the Earth in heavy elements is believed to have formed, including approximately ten Earth masses just of the two elements gold and platinum.
Gold is Good, P-Latinum is forever!
