Scientists Uncover Evidence of Lost Continent Drifting Away from Australia
Scientists at Utrecht University in the Netherlands have made a groundbreaking discovery, finding evidence of a lost continent that drifted away from the land mass that eventually became Australia around 155 million years ago. This discovery has filled a long-standing knowledge gap and sheds light on the formation of mountains, islands, and undersea geology.
Geologists have long speculated about the existence of a lost continent, named Argoland, due to a significant void in Western Australia known as the Argo Abyssal Plain. However, until now, the evidence supporting this theory was only circumstantial.
Using magnetic and structural geological evidence from the local seafloor, the team at Utrecht University reconstructed the history of Argoland. They found that the 3,100-mile landmass had traveled to South Asia and now sits more than 18,000 feet below the surface of the Indian Ocean.
Eldert Advokaat, from Utrecht University, explained that unlike other continents such as Africa and South America, Argoland splintered into many different shards. This complexity complicated researchers’ understanding of the continent’s journey.
By reviewing known tectonic “mega-units” in Southeast Asia and northwest Australia, scientists pieced together remnants of Argoland and proposed how they drifted so far from their original site. During the late Jurassic period, Pangaea, the massive landmass, broke up into two supercontinents, Laurasia and Gondwana. Argoland already seemed to be split into multiple fragments and seafloor sections at this time.
The researchers discovered that Argoland’s fragments settled around present-day Indonesia and Myanmar, forming many smaller pieces that gradually merged over millions of years. However, it is important to note that the islands in this region do not sit atop anything resembling the theoretical continent, as the only ancient continental crust in the area dates back 205 million years.
Although the reconstruction of Argoland’s journey provides valuable insights, the researchers acknowledged some limitations. The estimated geological ages of tectonic plate sections relied on outdated data, and modern measurements may provide a more precise timeline. Additionally, dense vegetation cover and the presence of seas in the area complicated correlations, potentially leading to incorrect interpretations.
This groundbreaking discovery has deepened our understanding of Earth’s geological history and highlights the complex processes that shape our planet.