Scientists have discovered potential fragments of Earth's ancient crust, known as subducted slabs, deep within the mantle using a new, high-resolution seismographic imaging technique.
A groundbreaking study has revealed the potential existence of numerous subducted slabs deep within Earth 's mantle, the planet's second outermost layer. These slabs, sometimes referred to as 'sunken worlds,' are ancient sections of the Earth 's crust that have been pulled down into the mantle through subduction zones, where tectonic plates collide. Researchers employed a novel seismographic imaging technique called full-waveform inversion to create a detailed 3D model of the mantle.
This method involves using computer models to combine seismographs derived from individual earthquakes across the globe, resulting in a single, clear image of the Earth's interior. The new model highlights anomalies within the mantle where seismic waves travel slower than usual. These anomalies, which could be fragments of subducted slabs, are distributed throughout the mantle, including locations where no known tectonic activity has occurred. This unexpected finding raises questions about the origin and formation of these 'blobs,' suggesting the possibility of ancient crustal material or other dense materials originating within the mantle billions of years ago.While the identity of these blobs remains a mystery, researchers believe they could shed light on the Earth's geological history and the processes shaping its interior. Further investigations, including analyzing the material properties and wave speeds within these anomalies, are crucial to unraveling their true nature
EARTH MANTLE SUBDUCTION SEISMIC WAVES GEOLOGICAL HISTORY
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Just a fraction of the hydrogen hidden beneath Earth's surface could power Earth for 200 years, scientists find [clone]Skyler Ware is a freelance science journalist covering chemistry, biology, paleontology and Earth science. She was a 2023 AAAS Mass Media Science & Engineering Fellow at Science News. Her work has also appeared in Science News Explores, ZME Science and Chembites, among others. Skyler has a Ph.D. in chemistry from Caltech.
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