In a recent discovery, geo-scientists have uncovered the mystery that had been missing for 375 years. A whole new continent, Zealandia, which is mostly under water has been discovered. It consists of groups of islands similar to New Zealand. It is speculated that Zealandia was originally part of the ancient supercontinent Gondwana that existed about 1 billion to 542 million years ago.
A new map of Zealandia has been charted. Researchers found the new continent by using the data obtained from dredged rock samples recovered from the ocean floors. The details of the research have been published in the journal Tectonics.
The size of Zealandia is about six times the size of Madagascar. It is about 94 per cent underwater and has only a few islands on the surface that are similar to New Zealand.
Studying Zealandia has been a challenging scientific pursuit. Scientists are now working hard to uncover its geological mysteries by carefully examining collections of rock and sediment samples extracted from the ocean floor. These valuable specimens were mainly obtained from deep-sea drilling sites, with some additional samples gathered from the coastlines of nearby islands.
Findings have revealed interesting geological patterns in the West Antarctic region, indicating the possible existence of a subduction zone near the Campbell Plateau off the western coast of New Zealand. However, a crucial observation was made - the absence of magnetic anomalies in this area, which challenges the prevailing theories about the nature of the Campbell Fault's strike-slip.
This journey of exploration has resulted in a new and improved map, which not only identifies the magmatic arc axis of Zealandia but also reveals other significant geological features that were previously hidden beneath the ocean's depths.
Zealandia has a fascinating geological history that dates back to its time as part of the ancient Gondwana supercontinent, formed around 550 million years ago. The formation of Gondwana brought all the landmasses in the southern hemisphere together, paving the way for Zealandia's unique story as a submerged continent waiting to be discovered.