Two Icelandic locations, Reykjanes and Vatnajökull, have been recognized as internationally important geological sites, joining the prestigious list of ‘The Second 100 IUGS Geological Heritage Sites’. The selection highlights the unique geological formations and volcanic history of these Icelandic areas.
The Al Naslaa Rock Formation in Saudi Arabia is a geological wonder, with two sandstone blocks separated by an almost perfectly straight, smooth gap. Scientists are still debating how this precise split occurred, with theories ranging from tectonic activity to wind erosion and even the expansion of frozen water. Al Naslaa’s unique shape, coupled with its ancient petroglyphs, makes it a captivating landmark in the Saudi Arabian desert.
Scientists have successfully traced the origins of 200 Martian meteorites to five impact craters on the Red Planet, providing valuable insights into Mars’ geological history and volcanic activity.
Scientists have uncovered a massive fault in Australia’s Pilbara Craton, dating back 3 billion years, providing evidence of horizontal plate movement during that period. This discovery fuels the ongoing debate about the origins of plate tectonics and challenges the ‘stagnant lid’ hypothesis, which theorized a rigid outer crust on early Earth. The new findings suggest that plate tectonics may have been active even earlier, potentially dating back to the Hadean eon, over 4 billion years ago.
This article delves into the increasing frequency and severity of landslides, exploring the factors driving this trend and the implications for communities worldwide.
A new study reveals that the world’s largest iron ore deposits in Western Australia formed during the breakup of the ancient supercontinent Columbia around 1.4 billion years ago. This discovery challenges previous assumptions about the deposits’ age and provides insights into the formation of mineral wealth linked to tectonic events.
A strong earthquake with a magnitude of 7.3 struck northern Chile on Thursday. The tremor’s epicenter was located deep within the earth, east of the coastal city of Antofagasta, and no tsunami warning was issued.
New research suggests that the plate tectonics that shape our planet may have begun much earlier than previously thought, potentially as early as 4 billion years ago, during Earth’s Hadean eon. This finding, based on the analysis of ancient zircon crystals, challenges the prevailing understanding of Earth’s early geological history.
The Tanezrouft Basin, a hyperarid region in the Sahara Desert, is a stark and beautiful landscape that reveals a fascinating geological history. This desolate environment, known as the ‘Land of Terror’, showcases exposed Paleozoic rock folds and colorful salt flats, a stark contrast to its harsh conditions. The basin’s landscape, shaped by millions of years of erosion, suggests a past that may have been more hospitable, hinting at a potential for a once diverse ecosystem.
Geologists have uncovered the remnants of a vast river system that once flowed for nearly a thousand miles across West Antarctica, offering insights into the Earth’s climate history and potential future changes.
