Ancient volcanic structure discovered off eastern England

Geologists have identified an ancient volcanic structure located off the eastern coast of England, near The Wash and the counties of Norfolk and Lincolnshire. While some researchers describe the formation as a supervolcano due to the scale of its historical activity, others note that definitive evidence is still being gathered to confirm that specific classification.

By analyzing zircon crystals containing uranium isotopes, scientists determined that eruptions from this site occurred approximately 454.4 million years ago during the Ordovician period. The study, published in the Bulletin of the Geological Society of America, reveals that volcanic ash plumes from this English site traveled across the Tornquist Sea to deposit layers in Scandinavia, specifically within the Kinnekulle tephras in Norway. This discovery provides new insights into the magnitude of the eruptions and the geological history of the North Sea region.