By Andrea Hargraves :strip_icc()/i.s3.glbimg.com/v1/AUTH_da025474c0c44edd99332dddb09cabe8/internal_photos/bs/2024/r/z/BaAUb9TBC84BDn02cfTA/407454bd-cb7a-4a97-a774-e5c6ad300dcf.jpg)
Researchers at the University of Maryland have discovered evidence of an ancient, never-studied “piece” of seafloor in the Eastern Pacific Ridge. It is possible that the surface portion reached deeper levels after subduction during the age of dinosaurs, and its analysis could open the door to new theories about the inner workings of the planet and possible changes on its surface over millions of years.
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The discovery was published in the journal Science Advances in September and is the result of a study conducted by geologist Jingxuan Wang. The research team used innovative seismic imaging techniques to deeply image the Earth's mantle, the layer between the planet's crust and its core.
During the analyses, the team identified the presence of an area of abnormal thickness, located in the mantle transition zone, that is, a “piece” of the sea floor at a depth of approximately 410 and 660 kilometers below the Earth’s surface, where the upper and lower mantle meet in the region where the Nazca tectonic plate is located in western America. South.
“This thick area resembles a fossilized imprint of an ancient piece of seafloor that sank into the Earth about 250 million years ago. It gives us a glimpse into Earth’s past that we have never had before,” said researcher Wang.
What is subduction?
The term “subduction” is used to describe a type of geological phenomenon in which one tectonic plate slides deeper beneath another. This movement often has visible effects, such as volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, or deep sea rifts.
“You can think of seismic imaging as something similar to a CT scan. It basically allowed us to get a cross-sectional view of the interior of our planet. Normally, Earth would have completely consumed oceanic plates of material, leaving no noticeable traces on the surface. But seeing the ancient subducting plate From this perspective it gave us new insights into the relationship between very deep Earth structures and surface geology that had not been clear before.
Now, the group of scientists plans to expand the research to other regions in the Pacific Ocean. The idea is to create a map capable of showing ancient subduction zones and reentry zones, when subducted geological material heats up and returns to the surface.
“This is just the beginning. We believe there are many ancient structures waiting to be discovered in Earth's deep interior. Each of them has the potential to reveal many new insights into our planet's complex past – and even lead to a better understanding of our planet's complex past. Planets,” the researcher says. other than our planet.