Scientists discover ghost of ancient mega-plate that disappeared 20 million years ago.
Scientists have discovered the remains of an ancient mega-plate that disappeared 20 million years ago. The plate, dubbed the "Pontus plate," was once a quarter of the size of the Pacific Ocean and covered much of what is now the South China Sea.
The discovery was made by chance when scientists were studying ancient rocks in Borneo. They found that the rocks did not match any known tectonic plate, so they used computer models to reconstruct the region's geology over the last 160 million years.
The reconstruction showed a gap between what is now South China and Borneo, where the scientists believe the Pontus plate once was. The plate is now gone, but its remnants can still be found deep in the Earth's mantle.
The discovery of the Pontus plate is a significant one, as it helps to fill in the gaps in our understanding of Earth's tectonic history. It also suggests that there may be other lost plates out there, waiting to be discovered.
The Pontus plate is thought to have formed at least 160 million years ago and was probably far older. It was once enormous, but shrank steadily over its lifespan. Finally, it was pushed under the Australian plate to the south and China to the north, disappearing 20 million years ago.
The discovery of the Pontus plate is a reminder that Earth is a dynamic planet and that its tectonic plates are constantly moving. It also shows that there is still much to learn about our planet's geological history.