Lost continent in Indian Ocean 2013
‘Lost continent’ found
The break-up of continents is often associated with mantle plumes.
These giant bubbles of hot rock rise from the deep mantle and soften the tectonic plates from below, until the plates break apart at the hotspots.
This is how Eastern Gondwana broke apart about 170 million years ago. At first,
‘Lost continent’ found
Scientists claim to have discovered remains of a lost ancient
continent between India and Madagascar, found buried under huge masses of lava.
The continent fragment known as Mauritia detached about 60 million years ago while Madagascar and India drifted apart, and had been hidden under lava.
Such microcontinents in the oceans seem to occur more frequently than previously thought, according to a new study in the journal Nature Geoscience.
The continent fragment known as Mauritia detached about 60 million years ago while Madagascar and India drifted apart, and had been hidden under lava.
Such microcontinents in the oceans seem to occur more frequently than previously thought, according to a new study in the journal Nature Geoscience.
The break-up of continents is often associated with mantle plumes.
These giant bubbles of hot rock rise from the deep mantle and soften the tectonic plates from below, until the plates break apart at the hotspots.
This is how Eastern Gondwana broke apart about 170 million years ago. At first,
one part was separated, which in turn fragmented into
Madagascar, India, Australia and Antarctica, which then migrated to their present position. Plumes currently
situated underneath the islands Marion and Reunion appear to have played a role in the emergence of the
Indian Ocean.
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