<P> Although it is rare on Earth, helium is the second most abundant element in the known Universe (after hydrogen), constituting 23% of its baryonic mass . The vast majority of helium was formed by Big Bang nucleosynthesis one to three minutes after the Big Bang . As such, measurements of its abundance contribute to cosmological models . In stars, it is formed by the nuclear fusion of hydrogen in proton - proton chain reactions and the CNO cycle, part of stellar nucleosynthesis . </P> <P> In the Earth's atmosphere, the concentration of helium by volume is only 5.2 parts per million . The concentration is low and fairly constant despite the continuous production of new helium because most helium in the Earth's atmosphere escapes into space by several processes . In the Earth's heterosphere, a part of the upper atmosphere, helium and other lighter gases are the most abundant elements . </P> <P> Most helium on Earth is a result of radioactive decay . Helium is found in large amounts in minerals of uranium and thorium, including cleveite, pitchblende, carnotite and monazite, because they emit alpha particles (helium nuclei, He) to which electrons immediately combine as soon as the particle is stopped by the rock . In this way an estimated 3000 metric tons of helium are generated per year throughout the lithosphere . In the Earth's crust, the concentration of helium is 8 parts per billion . In seawater, the concentration is only 4 parts per trillion . There are also small amounts in mineral springs, volcanic gas, and meteoric iron . Because helium is trapped in the subsurface under conditions that also trap natural gas, the greatest natural concentrations of helium on the planet are found in natural gas, from which most commercial helium is extracted . The concentration varies in a broad range from a few ppm to more than 7% in a small gas field in San Juan County, New Mexico . </P> <P> As of 2011 the world's helium reserves were estimated at 40 billion cubic meters, with a quarter of that being in the South Pars / North Dome Gas - Condensate field owned jointly by Qatar and Iran . In 2015 and 2016 more probable reserves were announced to be under the Rocky Mountains in North America and in east Africa . </P>

Where can helium be found in the world
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