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Bermuda's Hidden Rock Layer Stuns Scientists
13 Dec
Summary
- A 12.4-mile-thick rock layer exists beneath Bermuda's oceanic crust.
- This layer may explain Bermuda's elevated ocean floor without current volcanic activity.
- The rock's composition suggests deep mantle origins from ancient supercontinent formation.
A remarkable geological discovery has been made beneath the waters surrounding Bermuda, where scientists have identified an extraordinarily thick, 12.4-mile rock layer situated below the oceanic crust. This dense layer, which is emplaced within the tectonic plate Bermuda rests upon, has never been observed in such dimensions anywhere else on Earth. Researchers suggest this unusual formation could resolve a long-standing mystery regarding Bermuda's oceanic swell.
Ordinarily, such swells are attributed to active volcanic hotspots, but Bermuda's last volcanic eruption was 31 million years ago. The newly found structure, possibly injected mantle rock that solidified in place, may act as a substantial raft, elevating the ocean floor by about 1,640 feet. This geological anomaly challenges conventional explanations for oceanic swells and island formation.
Further analysis indicates the rock's composition, low in silica and high in carbon, points to origins deep within the Earth's mantle. This deep mantle material may have been incorporated during the formation of the supercontinent Pangea. Scientists are now investigating other oceanic islands to determine if similar unique geological features exist or if Bermuda's sub-crustal structure is truly one of a kind.
