Geology
Latest about Geology
![Illustration of a protoplanet smashing into Earth just after it formed.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/yJDb25hmJC3GKppMJCmhwQ-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/yJDb25hmJC3GKppMJCmhwQ-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/yJDb25hmJC3GKppMJCmhwQ-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/yJDb25hmJC3GKppMJCmhwQ-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/yJDb25hmJC3GKppMJCmhwQ-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/yJDb25hmJC3GKppMJCmhwQ-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/yJDb25hmJC3GKppMJCmhwQ-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/yJDb25hmJC3GKppMJCmhwQ-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
A 'protoplanet' that created the moon may be hiding deep inside Earth
By Stephanie Pappas published
Mystery blobs in Earth's mantle may be chunks of a Mars-sized space rock that crashed into our planet 4.5 billion years ago, scientists discover.
![An aerial view of a tropical archipelago.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dxGUrJurnxxVRBCp2f8zST-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dxGUrJurnxxVRBCp2f8zST-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dxGUrJurnxxVRBCp2f8zST-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dxGUrJurnxxVRBCp2f8zST-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dxGUrJurnxxVRBCp2f8zST-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dxGUrJurnxxVRBCp2f8zST-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dxGUrJurnxxVRBCp2f8zST-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dxGUrJurnxxVRBCp2f8zST-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Scientists finally discover 'lost continent' thought to have vanished without a trace
By Sascha Pare published
Scientists have pieced together the remnants of a continent that broke off from western Australia 155 million years ago and seemingly vanished as it drifted northward toward Southeast Asia.
![A map of an ancient supercontinent](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/UHc3rwtVK5SpW9UmGNDdU3-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/UHc3rwtVK5SpW9UmGNDdU3-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/UHc3rwtVK5SpW9UmGNDdU3-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/UHc3rwtVK5SpW9UmGNDdU3-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/UHc3rwtVK5SpW9UmGNDdU3-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/UHc3rwtVK5SpW9UmGNDdU3-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/UHc3rwtVK5SpW9UmGNDdU3-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/UHc3rwtVK5SpW9UmGNDdU3-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Scientists finally solve 390 million-year-old 'murder mystery' from an ancient supercontinent
By Harry Baker published
Researchers mapped out "cake-like" fossil layers belonging to a group of ancient marine creatures from the supercontinent Gondwana that mysteriously died off 390 million years ago.
![3D model of Lorrainosaurus against a black background](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dewvf3LWUZ6cUBgm3T2Sca-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dewvf3LWUZ6cUBgm3T2Sca-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dewvf3LWUZ6cUBgm3T2Sca-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dewvf3LWUZ6cUBgm3T2Sca-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dewvf3LWUZ6cUBgm3T2Sca-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dewvf3LWUZ6cUBgm3T2Sca-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dewvf3LWUZ6cUBgm3T2Sca-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dewvf3LWUZ6cUBgm3T2Sca-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Jurassic pliosaur 'megapredator' was a giant 'sea murderer'
By Patrick Pester published
The earliest pliosaur 'megapredator' helped rule the oceans 170 million years ago during the age of dinosaurs.
![Many valuable diamonds, raw and cut, for further processing for the jewelry industry.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Dx7xbdwdTdTyKa8XdBwrSg-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Dx7xbdwdTdTyKa8XdBwrSg-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Dx7xbdwdTdTyKa8XdBwrSg-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Dx7xbdwdTdTyKa8XdBwrSg-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Dx7xbdwdTdTyKa8XdBwrSg-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Dx7xbdwdTdTyKa8XdBwrSg-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Dx7xbdwdTdTyKa8XdBwrSg-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Dx7xbdwdTdTyKa8XdBwrSg-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
What's the deepest-occurring gemstone on Earth?
By Amanda Heidt published
Very few gems can withstand the intense pressure of Earth's mantle, but some require it to crystallize.
![illustration showing earth being bombarded with huge space rocks](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Njdxm8xFyTesqm768sLDKZ-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Njdxm8xFyTesqm768sLDKZ-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Njdxm8xFyTesqm768sLDKZ-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Njdxm8xFyTesqm768sLDKZ-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Njdxm8xFyTesqm768sLDKZ-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Njdxm8xFyTesqm768sLDKZ-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Njdxm8xFyTesqm768sLDKZ-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Njdxm8xFyTesqm768sLDKZ-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Mystery blobs in Earth's mantle may be linked to ancient gold and platinum that arrived from space
By Stephanie Pappas published
The gold and platinum that came from giant space rocks should have sunk into Earth's core instead of rising to the crust. Scientists have now worked out how this happened — and it may explain some really weird blobs deep in our planet's mantle.
![Close-up of costume diamonds in a black background.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VrTmQwZczZNg7H9iAQdYWg-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VrTmQwZczZNg7H9iAQdYWg-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VrTmQwZczZNg7H9iAQdYWg-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VrTmQwZczZNg7H9iAQdYWg-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VrTmQwZczZNg7H9iAQdYWg-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VrTmQwZczZNg7H9iAQdYWg-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VrTmQwZczZNg7H9iAQdYWg-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VrTmQwZczZNg7H9iAQdYWg-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Is anything harder than a diamond?
By Laurel Hamers published
Diamonds are naturally hard, but is there anything from Earth, space or even a lab that's harder?
![Map of Earth's principal tectonic plates. Earth's lithosphere. Major and minor plates. arrows indicate direction of movement at plate boundaries. Vector illustration.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/z7DAeSicvTpKcStVRVhnNZ-320-80.jpeg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/z7DAeSicvTpKcStVRVhnNZ-450-80.jpeg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/z7DAeSicvTpKcStVRVhnNZ-500-80.jpeg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/z7DAeSicvTpKcStVRVhnNZ-650-80.jpeg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/z7DAeSicvTpKcStVRVhnNZ-840-80.jpeg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/z7DAeSicvTpKcStVRVhnNZ-970-80.jpeg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/z7DAeSicvTpKcStVRVhnNZ-1024-80.jpeg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/z7DAeSicvTpKcStVRVhnNZ-1200-80.jpeg 1200w)
How many tectonic plates does Earth have?
By Emma Bryce published
The number varies from a dozen to almost 100 — and most of these don't even appear on official maps.
![map showing the pontus plate which vanished 20 million years ago](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/bK8crEvryP7ThzPRtK8sQk-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/bK8crEvryP7ThzPRtK8sQk-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/bK8crEvryP7ThzPRtK8sQk-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/bK8crEvryP7ThzPRtK8sQk-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/bK8crEvryP7ThzPRtK8sQk-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/bK8crEvryP7ThzPRtK8sQk-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/bK8crEvryP7ThzPRtK8sQk-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/bK8crEvryP7ThzPRtK8sQk-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Scientists discover ghost of ancient mega-plate that disappeared 20 million years ago
By Stephanie Pappas published
A long-lost tectonic plate dubbed 'Pontus' that was a quarter of the size of the Pacific Ocean was discovered by chance by scientists studying ancient rocks in Borneo.
![Water gushes through dark, craggy rocks on the shore.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/82D8cAV5oQz3ZLGsGFvSZ6-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/82D8cAV5oQz3ZLGsGFvSZ6-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/82D8cAV5oQz3ZLGsGFvSZ6-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/82D8cAV5oQz3ZLGsGFvSZ6-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/82D8cAV5oQz3ZLGsGFvSZ6-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/82D8cAV5oQz3ZLGsGFvSZ6-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/82D8cAV5oQz3ZLGsGFvSZ6-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/82D8cAV5oQz3ZLGsGFvSZ6-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Earth's crust swallowed a sea's worth of water and locked it away beneath Pacific seafloor
By Sascha Pare published
Porous rock that formed during one of Earth's biggest volcanic eruptions absorbed so much water as it eroded that it created a huge reservoir over the eons, now buried deep in Earth's crust.
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