Scientists have reconstructed Earth’s plate tectonics over the past 1.8 billion years using information from rocks on the planet’s surface. This is the first time that Earth’s geological record has been used to look so far back in time. The research, led by Xianzhi Cao from the Ocean University in China, has been published in the open-access journal Geoscience Frontiers.
The mapping of Earth’s history reveals a mesmerizing continental dance, starting with the familiar world map. It shows India moving south, followed by parts of Southeast Asia as the continent of Gondwana forms in the Southern Hemisphere. Around 200 million years ago, Gondwana linked with North America, Europe, and northern Asia to form the supercontinent Pangaea. The reconstruction continues back in time, revealing older supercontinents called Rodinia and Nuna.
Understanding Earth’s past plate tectonics is crucial for building a complete digital model of the planet’s history. This model will help test hypotheses about Earth’s climate fluctuations and the accumulation of oxygen in the atmosphere. It will also provide insights into the feedback between the deep planet and the surface systems that support life.
Mapping Earth’s past plate tectonics also has practical applications. It can help mineral explorers locate ancient metal-rich rocks buried under younger mountains by reconstructing ancient plate boundaries. Additionally, it can shed light on the availability of nutrients that powered the evolution of complex cells.
This research is just the beginning of exploring Earth’s 4.6 billion years of history. The rocks on the planet’s surface hold evidence of how it has changed over time, and further advancements in mapping Earth’s history are expected in the coming years. The author acknowledges the contributions of Xianzhi Cao and other researchers involved in the study, as well as the geological work done by students and researchers from various institutions.
