A lost world discovered deep beneath Antarctica

The history of the Transantarctic Mountains stretches back hundreds of millions of years. This 3,500-kilometre-long mountain range now lies dormant beneath Antarctica’s icy terrain. 

A team of American researchers have just published a study about the remnants of a turbulent geological past and the previously unknown origins of the Transantarctic Mountains. "What we have discovered challenges our understanding of the continent’s evolution," says Timothy Paulsen, geologist at the University of Wisconsin, and co-author of the study alongside thermochronology expert Jeff Benowitz from the University of Colorado.

By analysing the internal chemistry of igneous rocks (at the base of the mountains), the researchers were able to reconstruct their temperature-time evolution, thus identifying several cycles of mountain building and erosion that reveal an intense tectonic history, according to Geo. A surprising finding: these different phases of breakdown and uplift may coincide with major reorganisations of the tectonic plates surrounding Antarctica. 

Improving our understanding of the ice sheets

Based on the data collected, the scientists were also able to confirm the existence of a significant glacial period, dating back nearly 300 million years. "Our results suggest that the bedrock of the Transantarctic Mountains underwent several phases of mountain building followed by erosion, which in places erased the oldest strata," says Timothy Paulsen.

This discovery highlights the various processes that have shaped the continent’s present landscape. By establishing a link between climate, landforms and tectonics, the researchers hope to gain a better understanding of the evolution of ice sheets and how they impact the oceans. 

(MH with Raphaël Liset - Source: Geo - Illustration: ©Unsplash)