Read Time: < 1 minute
Chimera flames. Flames of burning methane on Mount Chimera, near Cirali, Turkey. This is the largest field of abiogenic methane burning in the world. Also known as Yanartas (Turkish for burning rock) it is the location of many small fires over an area of 5000 square meters that have burned for at least 2500 years. The source of the methane is abiogenic – it results from low temperature oxidation of mafic and ultramafic rocks (serpentinisation) in the underlying geology of the region. This site had been identified with the ancient Greek legend of the chimaera, a fire-breathing composite of a lion, a goat and a snake. A more practical application was its use as an ancient beacon for coastal navigation.

Godfred Meba

View Comments

  • Reading your essay was a true pleasure for me. You were quite successful in elucidating the subject, and your writing is both interesting and easy to understand. The principles were much easier to grasp after reading the examples you provided. Your expertise is much appreciated.

Recent Posts

Industrial Fisheries Sector Rejects Fisheries Bill

The Ghana Tuna Association (GTA), and the Ghana Industrial Trawlers Association, both representing the Joint…

3 hours ago

Asanko Gold Stokes Tension Again At Manso Tontokrom

Renewed tension is mounting in Manso Tontokrom, a mining community in the Amansie South District…

3 hours ago

GHANA SIGNS DEBT RELIEF PACKAGE WITH FRANCE WORTH 87.7 MILLION EUROS

BY: DANIEL ASARE Finance Minister, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson has touted the country’s recovery from…

1 day ago

Lands Minister Extends Deadline for Small-Scale Mining License Rectification

The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah (MP), has granted an…

1 day ago

KENNEDY AGYAPONG SPEAKS OUT!

Mr. Kennedy Agyapong Mr. Kennedy Agyapong, a presidential aspirant of the New Patriotic Party (NPP)…

1 day ago

PRATT CALLS FOR UNITED ACTION ON REPARATION

Mr. Kwesi Pratt, Jnr, a member of the Coordinating Committee of the Pan African Progressive…

2 days ago