Zealandia's ancient secrets: Earth's hidden eighth continent revealed
Zealandia, which some researchers believe could be considered Earth's eighth continent, is older than previously thought. Recent studies suggest that Zealandia is over a billion years old.
Scientists have discovered that Zealandia, considered by some to be the eighth continent, is significantly older than previously believed. Research by the Geological Society of America indicates that this landmass is over a billion years old, making it one of the oldest on our planet.
Zealandia: The smallest continent
Zealandia, 94 percent of which is submerged in the Pacific, has a total area of approximately 1.9 million square miles. It is the smallest continent, just after Australia, which covers about 3 million square miles. New Zealand is the portion of Zealandia that rises above the ocean.
Until now, it was thought that Zealandia was about 500 million years old. However, studies that included the collection of 169 samples from the South Island and Stewart Island revealed that this landmass is over a billion years old. This discovery changes our understanding of Earth's geological history.
Characteristics of Zealandia
Zealandia possesses all the characteristics needed to be considered a separate continent. It features elevated bathymetry compared to the surrounding oceanic crust and contains varied, silica-rich rocks. It is distinctly isolated from Australia and spans a relatively large area.
Recognizing Zealandia as the eighth continent would be a significant step in geological research and could impact future analyses regarding the structure of our planet. The idea that our planet has not seven, but eight continents has been discussed for several years, though no scientific consensus has yet been reached on this issue.
