New microcontinent discovered between Canada and Greenland
Geologists have discovered a new microcontinent between Canada and Greenland. This area formed several tens of millions of years ago. Scientists emphasize that it is an "ideal natural laboratory" for analyzing how microcontinents are formed.
3:57 PM EDT, July 19, 2024
A microcontinent is defined by scientists as a fragment of continental crust that is separated from larger continents and does not lie within the continental shelf.
The new microcontinent is located in the Davis Strait, which separates the northeastern edges of Canada from Greenland. This strait connects Baffin Bay and the Labrador Sea.
According to scientists, the last tectonic changes in this area occurred around 33 to 61 million years ago. During this time, a thick fragment of continental crust formed beneath the water's surface.
Sensational discovery. Scientists boast
Scientists argue that this is a completely new, previously unknown microcontinent. Research on this area is being conducted, among others, by Dr. Jordan Phethean from the University of Derby in the United Kingdom. He says the new discovery is an "ideal natural laboratory" for analyzing how microcontinents are formed.
"The goal of our work is to understand their formation well enough to predict their future evolution," emphasizes the researcher.
