“Tom was just telling us he has an idea for tapping pure iron from the center of the earth,” Uncle Ned explained. “I must say it seems a little farfetched, even from Tom.”
“If my brother says it’s possible, you can bet on it!” Sandra declared.
24
DANGER SIGNAL 25
“Thanks, Sandy,” Tom said, grinning. “I hope I can convince everyone else that easily!”
“What is it you have in mind, son?” Mr. Swift inquired.
“Well, to begin with,” Tom said, “scientists are agreed that the center of the earth is molten iron.”
“The entire core of the earth is molten iron, isn’t it?” Uncle Ned asked.
“No one knows for sure,” Tom replied. “However, my own hunch is that the inner core is solid iron, with a layer of molten liquid in between that and the earth’s outer crust. I base my theory on the shape of the earth and the fact that it rotates on a fairly stable axis.”
“You may be right,” Mr. Swift agreed thoughtfully. “That theory agrees with most estimates of heat at the earth’s core.”
“Anyhow,” Tom went on, “it’s certain that if we burrow down below the earth’s crust, we’ll strike molten iron.”
“Goodness, it sounds as if you’d have to go miles down!” his mother exclaimed.
Tom nodded. “That’s true. But there’s one place where I believe the molten iron is much closer to the surface than anywhere else on earth.”
“Where’s that?” Sandy asked. She was listening eagerly, her chin cupped in her hands and her eyes wide with interest.
26 TOM SWIFT AND HIS ATOMIC BLASTER
“At the South Pole,” Tom replied.
There was a stir of surprise as the young inventor went on to explain his reasons.
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