Scientists from India and Japan uncover ancient ocean water in the Himalayas, revealing clues to Earth's past
- In Environment & Ecosystem
- 05:36 PM, Jul 29, 2023
- Myind Staff
Researchers from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and Japan's Niigata University have made a significant discovery in the Himalayas. They have found droplets of water trapped in mineral deposits that are believed to have originated from an ancient ocean that existed approximately 600 million years ago. This finding provides valuable insights into the Earth's history and its paleo oceans, according to a study published in the scientific journal Precambrian Research.
The discovery is particularly intriguing as it may shed light on the Earth's past glaciation events. Between 700 and 500 million years ago, the planet experienced a period of intense glaciations known as the Snowball Earth glaciations. During this time, thick ice sheets covered the Earth for an extended duration. Subsequently, there was a significant increase in oxygen levels in the Earth's atmosphere, known as the Second Great Oxygenation Event, which eventually led to the evolution of complex life forms.
Understanding the connection between these events has been challenging due to the lack of well-preserved fossils and the disappearance of past oceans. However, the exposure of marine rocks in the Himalayas has offered an opportunity to study these ancient environments.
The team of scientists discovered deposits dating back to the time of the Snowball Earth glaciation. These deposits revealed a prolonged calcium deficiency in the sedimentary basins, likely due to low riverine input during that period. As a consequence, the precipitation of calcium caused an increase in the amount of magnesium, providing clues about the ancient ocean's conditions.
The researchers propose that the magnesium deposits formed during this time were able to store ancient ocean water in their pore space as they crystallized. This indicates that the ancient oceans lacked flow and experienced a lack of calcium input, creating an environment suitable for slow-growing photosynthetic cyanobacteria. These cyanobacteria may have contributed to increased oxygen levels in the atmosphere, leading to biological radiation or evolution.
The findings have the potential to provide valuable information about past oceanic conditions, including pH, chemistry, and isotopic composition. Previously, this information has only been theorized or modeled, making this discovery a significant contribution to our understanding of the evolution of oceans and life on Earth. Further research and analysis of these ancient deposits could offer critical insights into the Earth's past climate and valuable data for climate modeling.
To locate these deposits, the team extensively searched a vast area of the western Kumaon Himalayas, and through rigorous laboratory analysis, they confirmed that the deposits resulted from precipitation from ancient ocean water rather than from other sources like submarine volcanic activity. This breakthrough discovery opens up new avenues of research into the ancient history of our planet's oceans.
Image source: AFP News
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