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Antarctica: Ancient mountain range discovered beneath ice sheet
Researchers have discovered evidence of a massive, ancient mountain range buried beneath the Antarctic ice sheet. By analyzing zircon crystals recovered from deep-sea sediments, scientists determined that these mountains, which were part of the supercontinent Gondwana, formed between 650 and 450 million years ago. The scale of this ultra-high mountain network is estimated to be comparable to the modern-day Himalayas.
This geological feature may have been a primary driver for the evolution of complex life. As the mountains weathered, they released essential nutrients such as phosphorus and iron into the oceans, acting as a fertilizer for algae and bacteria.
In a separate finding regarding Antarctic ice, a study published in Communications Earth & Environment suggests that greenhouse gas concentrations in blue ice areas may be altered after being trapped. Researchers believe sunlight penetrating clear ice can trigger chemical reactions, potentially complicating the use of these ice layers as reliable climate archives.
Entities
Antarctica · Communications Earth & Environment · Earth and Planetary Science Letters · Gondwana
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Sunlight penetrating clear blue ice can trigger chemical reactions that alter greenhouse gas concentrations. www.futurezone.de
- [● 2 SOURCES] The weathering of these mountains provided nutrients like phosphorus and iron to the oceans, potentially fueling the explosion of life. www.fehmarn24.de · www.tz.de
- [● 2 SOURCES] Tiny mineral crystals known as zircons indicate the presence of massive mountain roots beneath the Antarctic ice. www.fehmarn24.de · www.tz.de
- [● 2 SOURCES] These mountains formed between 650 and 450 million years ago during the creation of the supercontinent Gondwana. www.fehmarn24.de · www.tz.de
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Changes in oxygen isotope values in the top one to two meters of ice suggest these chemical processes are occurring. www.futurezone.de