Geology News - SciTechDaily

1268 Meters Down: Record-Breaking Mantle Core Reveals Earth’s Deep Geological Secrets

American Association for the Advancement of Science — Thu, 15 Aug 2024 08:22:29 +0000

A recent 1268-meter drill core into Earth’s mantle from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge has revealed new insights into its mineral composition and processes, challenging existing geological models and underscoring the role of deep-sea drilling in scientific discovery. A record-breaking 1268-meter (4160 feet) drill core into Earth’s mantle, collected from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge in the North Atlantic, [...]

Greenland’s Ice Sheet Isn’t As Solid as We Thought – and That’s Terrifying

University of Vermont — Wed, 14 Aug 2024 19:24:48 +0000

New evidence shows Greenland’s ice sheet once melted completely, revealing a tundra below. This suggests increased vulnerability to climate change and significant potential sea level rises. New research provides the first direct evidence that the center, not just the edges, of Greenland’s ice sheet melted in the recent geological past and the now-ice-covered island was [...]

650 Feet High: The Megatsunami That Rocked Greenland’s East Coast

GFZ GeoForschungsZentrum Potsdam, Helmholtz Centre — Tue, 13 Aug 2024 12:34:21 +0000

Seismologists measure tremors from distances up to 5000 km away. On September 16, 2023, a massive wave struck a fjord on Greenland’s east coast, leaving evidence of flooding up to 200 meters (650 feet) high in some areas. Researchers, led by Angela Carrillo Ponce from the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ), have analyzed seismic [...]

New Clues to the Origins of Life: Record-Breaking Mantle Rock Recovery Could Redefine Earth’s History

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution — Mon, 12 Aug 2024 08:41:24 +0000

An international team has begun to investigate the mantle’s role in supporting life on Earth, driving volcanism, and influencing global cycles. Scientists have successfully recovered the first long section of rocks originating from the Earth’s mantle, the layer beneath the crust and the planet’s largest component. These rocks are expected to shed light on the [...]

Reimagining Earth’s History: New Study Challenges Long-Held Theories of Continent Formation

University of Illinois Chicago — Wed, 07 Aug 2024 01:25:32 +0000

A recent study challenges traditional views on how Earth’s continents were formed, suggesting that subduction may not have been necessary. His findings propose that the melting of Earth’s crust could explain the formation of continents, casting doubt on when plate tectonics began and highlighting its impact on life’s origin. The formation of Earth’s continents billions [...]

Seismic Science Reveals Moon’s Mantle Is Rich in Garnet

Ehime University — Wed, 31 Jul 2024 07:16:07 +0000

Researchers synthesized garnet-rich lunar rock assemblages to determine if sound velocities in these compositions match seismic profiles of the Moon’s deep interior. Using high-pressure experiments, they concluded that garnet presence is compatible with observed seismic data at depths of 740-1260 km, suggesting its significant role in the Moon’s structure and dynamics. Moon’s Interior and Garnet [...]

Unparalleled Insight – Ancient Fossil Discovery Shows How South America and Africa Drifted Apart

Southern Methodist University — Tue, 30 Jul 2024 04:24:24 +0000

Rocks and fossils found in Angola by an SMU-led research team offer an unparalleled view of the formation of the South Atlantic Ocean, illustrating the split of South America and Africa that began about 140 million years ago. A research team led by Southern Methodist University (SMU) has discovered that ancient rocks and fossils of [...]

Cracking the Climate Code: Scientists Unearth Clues From 380 Million Years Ago

Ruhr-University Bochum — Mon, 29 Jul 2024 00:36:00 +0000

Rocks undergo transformations over millions of years, but they still hold valuable information about the climate during their formation. Fluids circulating underground gradually alter rocks over time. These processes must be considered when using rocks as climate archives. Dr. Mathias Müller from the Sediment and Isotope Geology research group at Ruhr University Bochum, Germany, along [...]

2.5 Billion-Year-Old “Time Capsule” Rocks Rewrite History: New Study Challenges Mantle Oxidation Theory

Smithsonian — Sun, 28 Jul 2024 03:31:09 +0000

Smithsonian scientists conduct new research on ancient ‘time capsule’ rocks, dating back at least 2.5 billion years. Researchers at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History have conducted a new analysis of rocks believed to be at least 2.5 billion years old, shedding light on the chemical history of Earth’s mantle, the layer beneath the [...]

Subarctic Secrets: Mars’ Cold and Icy Past Revealed in New Research

Desert Research Institute — Thu, 11 Jul 2024 08:17:04 +0000

A new study finds critical clues lurking in the Red Planet’s soil. Recent research comparing soils from Earth and Mars suggests Mars’ historical climate was cold and subarctic, similar to Newfoundland. The study focused on amorphous materials in Gale Crater’s soil, potentially preserved by near-freezing conditions, offering new insights into Mars’ environmental conditions and its [...]

Geoscientists Unlock the Mystery: Why We Haven’t Met Aliens Yet

Amanda Siegfried, University of Texas at Dallas — Mon, 08 Jul 2024 02:03:31 +0000

Researchers suggest that the scarcity of oceans, continents, and long-term plate tectonics on exoplanets likely explains the rarity of advanced extraterrestrial civilizations, challenging the estimates provided by the Drake equation and addressing the Fermi paradox. New research by University of Texas at Dallas geoscientist Dr. Robert Stern and a colleague suggests a geological explanation for [...]

East vs. West: Antarctica’s Ice Tells Two Very Different Tales

Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research — Sun, 07 Jul 2024 20:04:55 +0000

New findings indicate East Antarctica began glaciating 34 million years ago, unlike West Antarctica which remained ice-free longer. The study emphasizes regional differences in Antarctica’s ice response to climate shifts. Global warming has left its mark on the Antarctic ice sheets in recent years. The “eternal” ice in Antarctica is melting faster than previously assumed, [...]

Deformation Imaging: Revolutionizing Our View of Earth’s Subterranean Mysteries

University of Texas at Austin — Fri, 05 Jul 2024 14:33:19 +0000

A new computational technique developed enables the use of surface mapping technologies like GPS to analyze subsurface geological structures. This method, termed deformation imaging, offers insights into the rigidity of the Earth’s crust and mantle, enhancing our understanding of geological processes like earthquakes. The technique has already provided a detailed view of subsurface areas during [...]

The Land of Fire and Ice: Iceland’s Volcanic Eruptions May Last Decades – Possibly Centuries

University of Oregon — Sat, 29 Jun 2024 16:35:50 +0000

The beginning of a long, disruptive volcanic episode near Iceland’s capital. Iceland faces a prolonged volcanic threat on the Reykjanes Peninsula, impacting key infrastructure and 70% of the population. Ongoing scientific analysis aims to predict future eruptions and their consequences using seismic and geochemical data. Ongoing Volcanic Threats in Iceland Using local earthquake and geochemical [...]

Volcanic Vigor: Iceland’s Eruptions May Last Decades

Uppsala University — Wed, 26 Jun 2024 07:15:44 +0000

Researchers predict recurring volcanic eruptions in Iceland due to the interconnected magma system beneath the Reykjanes Peninsula. Given the volcanic activity in Iceland over the last three years, researchers from six universities anticipate recurring, moderately sized eruptions of similar style in the coming years to decades. They therefore stress the need for preparedness in view [...]

Mystery of the Moon’s Far Side Unraveled by China’s Chang’e-6 Lunar Probe

Cell Press — Mon, 24 Jun 2024 16:00:56 +0000

China’s Chang’e-6 mission is set to deliver samples from the Moon’s farside, potentially unveiling significant geologic variations and the effects of ancient meteorite impacts, which could enrich our knowledge of the Moon’s development and the early solar system. China’s Chang’e-6 (CE-6) lunar probe is set to return to Earth on June 25, carrying the first [...]

Mysterious Pink Sand Deposits in Australia Reveal Existence of Previously Unknown Ancient Mountains

University of Adelaide — Wed, 19 Jun 2024 22:48:20 +0000

Australian researchers have discovered that pink garnet sand on South Australian beaches originates from ancient Antarctic mountains, redefining the known geological history and the formation timeline of the Pacific Ocean. Deep-pink sand deposits found on the shores of South Australia have provided new insights into the timing of the subduction of the Australian tectonic plate [...]

Challenging Modern Climate Narratives: Forgotten 1937 Aerial Photos Expose Antarctic Anomaly

University of Copenhagen – Faculty of Science — Wed, 12 Jun 2024 02:11:48 +0000

A study using a whaler’s forgotten aerial photos from 1937 shows East Antarctica’s ice has been stable and even grown, despite some early signs of weakening. Extreme weather, melting glaciers, and rising sea levels are all indicators that the climate and the world’s ice masses are in a critical state. However, a new study from [...]

From Ice Age to Geological Wonderland: The Rapid Transformation of Adam’s Inlet

Adam Voiland, NASA Earth Observatory — Sun, 02 Jun 2024 23:44:12 +0000

Adam’s Inlet, previously covered by thick ice, is now ice-free and features braided rivers, landslide debris, and alluvial fans spread across a dynamic landscape in Glacier Bay National Park. From a geological perspective, Adam’s Inlet in Alaska has undergone major changes in the blink of an eye. Just 130 years ago, the inlet was covered [...]

Decoding the Red Planet’s Structure: Insights From Martian Meteorites

University of California - San Diego — Fri, 31 May 2024 18:00:18 +0000

Research on Martian meteorites reveals unique geological insights into Mars’ crust and mantle, aiding our understanding of the planet’s volcanic and atmospheric history. Mars has a distinct structure in its mantle and crust with discernible reservoirs, and this is known thanks to meteorites that scientists at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego and [...]

White and Black: Unveiling the Secrets of Saudi Arabia’s Volcanic Giants

Emily Cassidy, NASA Earth Observatory — Tue, 28 May 2024 05:15:01 +0000

Harrat Khaybar, a major volcanic field in Saudi Arabia, showcases a diverse range of volcanoes and eruptions, reflecting millions of years of geological activity. The contrasting colors of lava and ash reveal the geologic origins of Harrat Khaybar’s volcanic cones. While the Arabian Peninsula is known for its vast deserts of sand, the area also [...]

Archaeological Wonderland: Unearthing Orce’s Ancient Secrets Through Fossils

Adam Voiland, NASA Earth Observatory — Fri, 24 May 2024 05:01:53 +0000

Ancient hominin fossils lie beneath the sandy soils on the outskirts of this village in southern Spain. Located on the high plateau of Granada in southern Spain, the village of Orce is known for its semi-arid landscapes where residents traditionally depend on groundwater for cultivating crops and raising livestock. Many still do, but in 1976 [...]

Robotic Explorers Uncover Unexpected Ancient Origins of Strange Seafloor Formations

Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute — Tue, 21 May 2024 13:00:35 +0000

Data from MBARI’s advanced underwater robots point to erosion during intermittent sediment flows as the mechanism maintaining these circular depressions for hundreds of thousands of years. Recent research conducted by the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) has uncovered that sediment flows, rather than methane gas eruptions, are responsible for maintaining large, circular depressions known [...]

The Craton Enigma: Scientists Propose a New Continental Formation Theory

Penn State — Sat, 11 May 2024 22:02:18 +0000

Ancient, vast stretches of continental crust known as cratons have stabilized Earth’s continents for billions of years through shifts in landmasses, mountain formation, and ocean development. Scientists from Penn State have suggested a new mechanism that could explain the formation of cratons around 3 billion years ago, shedding light on a long-standing question in Earth’s [...]