geology

MIT geologists determined the original orientation of many of the bedrock samples collected on Mars by the Perseverance rover, depicted in this image rendering. The findings can give scientists clues to the conditions in which the rocks originally formed. Credit: NASA/JPL-CaltechMIT geologists unlock the orientation of Martian rocks collected by NASA’s Perseverance rover. The “oriented” samples, the first of their kind from any planet, could shed light on Mars’ ancient magnetic field.As it trundles around an ancient…

The Thwaites Glacier in Antarctica, undergoing significant ice loss since the 1940s due to climate changes and El Niño events, contributes to 4% of global sea-level rise. Researchers emphasize the ongoing retreat initiated by external factors like ocean and atmosphere circulation changes, highlighting the importance of understanding these dynamics for future sea-level rise projections. Credit: Robert LarterNestled within the immense wilderness of Antarctica, the Thwaites Glacier stretches impressively across approximately…

New research introduces significant updates to the lunar stratigraphic time scale, incorporating a holistic view of the Moon’s evolution post-Apollo era. Dividing the Moon’s history into three Eons based on the interplay of internal and external processes, the researchers highlight key evolutionary phases from the formation of the magma ocean to the current dominance of impact events. The identification of the “Das Formation” and the refinement of the Pre-Nectarian Period into the Magma-oceanian and Aitkenian Periods…

The Gibraltar subduction zone’s slow activity, revealed by new research, indicates it may soon accelerate and contribute to the closing of the Atlantic Ocean, marking a significant phase in the Earth’s geological evolution. This finding underscores the importance of subduction invasion in shaping our planet and highlights the potential for significant seismic activity in the area. Credit: NASAThe Earth’s lithosphere is divided into multiple tectonic plates, which are continuously moving. This movement leads to the…

New research has identified oceanic transform faults as significant, previously underestimated sinks for CO2, challenging existing notions about the Earth’s geological carbon cycle. This research emphasizes the crucial role of natural geological emissions in shaping Earth’s climate history and highlights the need for a deeper understanding of these processes in the context of addressing contemporary climate change. Above is a cut slice of altered mantle rock. Credit: Solvin ZanklStudying a rock is like reading a book. The…

Rocks made of barium sulfate (known as barite rocks) from the Pilbara Craton in Western Australia. Credit: Gerhard HundertmarkTo learn about the first organisms on our planet, researchers have to analyze the rocks of the early Earth. These can only be found in a few places on the surface of the Earth. The Pilbara Craton in Western Australia is one of these rare sites: there are rocks there that are around 3.5 billion years old containing traces of the microorganisms that lived at that time.A research team led by the…

The Seattle fault zone, a network of shallow faults threatening the Puget Sound region, has a new origin story based on a study published in Tectonics that suggests its formation around 55 million years ago due to tectonic deformation. This study, revealing ancient volcanic island interactions with the North American plate, aims to enhance hazard modeling for the densely populated area.Magnetic evidence indicates that the dangerous Seattle fault zone may have originated from the continent’s edge splitting in half over 50…

A study predicts the extension of the Gibraltar Strait subduction zone into the Atlantic, potentially creating an Atlantic ring of fire in about 20 million years. Utilizing advanced computational models, this research sheds light on the dynamic nature of oceanic life cycles and the formation of new subduction zones. It offers new insights into the Gibraltar subduction zone’s activity and its implications for seismic activity, emphasizing the importance of preparedness and the study of subduction invasion as a key process…

Research on the Quaternary period reveals rapid climate changes, known as Dansgaard-Oeschger events, in the last and penultimate glacial periods through Greenland ice cores and Turkish stalagmites. These findings, highlighting the North Atlantic’s influence, aim to improve climate models and extend understanding of climate variability up to 700,000 years.Throughout the Quaternary period of recent geological history, there have been alternating cycles of ice ages and warm intervals. Scientists can understand past climate…

Australian geologists have identified low volcanic CO2 emissions and rock weathering in Canada as key factors behind an extreme ice age 700 million years ago. Their research, informed by plate tectonic modeling and geological evidence from South Australia, sheds light on Earth’s climate sensitivity and its natural thermostat mechanisms, contrasting the slow pace of geological climate change with the rapid changes driven by human activities. Credit: NASAVolcanic carbon emissions reached an all-time low, triggering a global…