GoKawiilGeologists find zircon evidence of Gondwana mountain remnants under Antarctica
Two geologists from Australian National University analyzed zircon minerals in ocean sediments to trace the outlines of the ancient supercontinent Gondwana beneath Antarctica's ice sheet. Their findings, published in Earth and Planetary Science Letters, suggest Antarctica contained substantial material dating to Gondwana's formation between 650 and 450 million years ago.
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The timing overlaps with the Cambrian explosion, when life diversified rapidly, so the researchers suggest these buried mountain remnants could help explain how ancient geological processes influenced early biological evolution. Since direct study of Antarctica's ice-covered rock is difficult, this sediment-based method offers a workaround for probing deep geological history without drilling through the ice.
- Zircon dating in ocean sediments reveals traces of Gondwana beneath Antarctica
- Findings suggest Himalaya-scale mountains once existed there 450-650 million years ago
- Research links ancient supercontinent formation to conditions during the Cambrian explosion
Source: futurism.com — Victor Tangermann, 2026-09-26
Published there as: “Scientists Say They’ve Found Remnants of Huge Life-Giving Continent Beneath Antarctica”
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