Geologists have confirmed the existence of a hidden continent named Zealandia beneath the South Pacific Ocean. The submerged land masking round 5 million sq. kilometres of India’s dimension, stays largely hidden, with 95% of its floor submerged beneath the waves.
A 2023 examine titled Reconnaissance Base Geology and Tectonics in Northern Zealandia, revealed within the Journal of Tectonics by the American Geophysical Union, offered particulars on Zealandia geology. Researchers at GNS Science in New Zealand, together with Dr. Nick Mortimer, took on the analysis to map and perceive the huge continental areas.
“For a long time, many geologists have assumed that Zealandia is a continental nature, however its classification as one other continent has not been broadly accepted. New analysis supported by superior methods corresponding to geological chronology has offered robust proof to categorise Zealandia as a continent.
The formation of Zealandia is related to the traditional supercontinent Gondwana, which incorporates present territories in elements of South America, Africa, Antarctica, Australia and Asia greater than 100 million years in the past. About 85 million years in the past, Zealandia started to separate from Gondwana and initially remained above sea degree. For thousands and thousands of years, structural forces thinned the crust of Zealandia, ultimately pulling many of the continent beneath the floor of the ocean.
The mixture of magnetic anomalies and rock age revealed geological patterns that replicate these noticed on recognized continents. Structural consistency throughout the northern half of Zealandia offered robust proof of its continentality. The constant sign supported the concept Zealandia was not merely a random oceanic crust. It was constructed not solely as fragments of the oceanic crust, however because the attribute geological models of the true continents and shelters of the continental crust.
“The submerged situation of Zealandia by no means reduces its geological significance,” mentioned Dr. Nick Mortimer. He added, “It’s nearly submerged right this moment, however Zealandia retains huge scientific worth.”
Researchers recognized Zealandia sandstone, volcanic gravel and basalt lava remnants typical of continental environments and offered geological previous information. These rock samples date from the Early Cretaceous (100-116 million years in the past) to the Eocene (34-56 million years in the past), suggesting that elements of the continent remained on the water for a very long time earlier than they utterly subsided.
Despite progress, most of Zealandia stays unexplored, and its presence is vital for scientific analysis. Scientists hope to seek out extra clues to stipulate Zealandia’s construction and previous. Technologies corresponding to seismic imaging and deep sea drilling might reveal particulars about Zealandia’s inside configuration.
It is written with the assistance of a information evaluation system.