In a surprising discovery, scientists have found a long-lost continental fragment buried beneath the thick ice of Greenland . This previously unfound microcontinent formed tens of millions of years ago is believed to be a part of a complex tectonic rift system between Greenland and Canada.
Along with redefining the geological map of the North Atlantic, the continent's discovery also expands our understanding of plate tectonic reorganisation, continental separation and how fragments of ancient crust were stranded during the birth of new oceans.
Between Greenland and Canada
The region separating Canada and Greenland has long been one of high interest due to its complex geological conditions. It is here the Labrador Sea and Baffin Bay connect via the Davis Strait, a region formed by tectonic activity during the Paleogene period, roughly between 61-33 million years ago.
During this time, Earth's crust began to break apart, initiating a period of rifting and seafloor spreading.
Stranded continent
According to researchers, this portion of continental crust, about 19-24 kilometres deep, was not fully separated and thus became stranded beneath the ocean floor.
Now, this continental block is known as the Davis Strait proto-microcontinent , a term being used to describe a slab of continental lithosphere that is neither fully connected nor fully detached from a major landmass.
How was the proto-microcontinent formed?
Scientists used gravity maps and seismic imaging to identify the structure and orientation of faults in the region. The data pointed to a change in the direction of seafloor spreading that occurred around 49-58 million years ago. This move from a northeast-southwest axis to a more north-south alignment played a vital role in the place of the proto-microcontinent.
When the ocean spreading in the region stopped around 33 million years ago, Greenland collided with Ellesmere Island and became a part of the North American plate. This was the last tectonic motion in the area, thus finalising the proto-microcontinent's place beneath the ocean and at the edge of Greenland's western coast.
Research reveals shocking discoveries
In a study published in Gondwana Research Fr. Jordan Phethean, doctoral researcher Luke Longley from the University of Derby and Dr Christian Schiffer of Uppsala University, revealed that the area's isolated tectonic history made it a premium location to study the formation of microcontinents.
They explained that these proto-microcontinents are “regions of relatively thick continental lithosphere separated from major continents by a zone of thinner continental lithosphere.” The rifting and microcontinent formation help to predict the future evolution of the planet's surface.
Along with redefining the geological map of the North Atlantic, the continent's discovery also expands our understanding of plate tectonic reorganisation, continental separation and how fragments of ancient crust were stranded during the birth of new oceans.
Between Greenland and Canada
The region separating Canada and Greenland has long been one of high interest due to its complex geological conditions. It is here the Labrador Sea and Baffin Bay connect via the Davis Strait, a region formed by tectonic activity during the Paleogene period, roughly between 61-33 million years ago.
During this time, Earth's crust began to break apart, initiating a period of rifting and seafloor spreading.
Stranded continent
According to researchers, this portion of continental crust, about 19-24 kilometres deep, was not fully separated and thus became stranded beneath the ocean floor.
Now, this continental block is known as the Davis Strait proto-microcontinent , a term being used to describe a slab of continental lithosphere that is neither fully connected nor fully detached from a major landmass.
How was the proto-microcontinent formed?
Scientists used gravity maps and seismic imaging to identify the structure and orientation of faults in the region. The data pointed to a change in the direction of seafloor spreading that occurred around 49-58 million years ago. This move from a northeast-southwest axis to a more north-south alignment played a vital role in the place of the proto-microcontinent.
When the ocean spreading in the region stopped around 33 million years ago, Greenland collided with Ellesmere Island and became a part of the North American plate. This was the last tectonic motion in the area, thus finalising the proto-microcontinent's place beneath the ocean and at the edge of Greenland's western coast.
Research reveals shocking discoveries
In a study published in Gondwana Research Fr. Jordan Phethean, doctoral researcher Luke Longley from the University of Derby and Dr Christian Schiffer of Uppsala University, revealed that the area's isolated tectonic history made it a premium location to study the formation of microcontinents.
They explained that these proto-microcontinents are “regions of relatively thick continental lithosphere separated from major continents by a zone of thinner continental lithosphere.” The rifting and microcontinent formation help to predict the future evolution of the planet's surface.
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