New Findings Link Mysterious Pink Sand of South Australia to Ancient Antarctic Mountains
In a fascinating twist of geological discovery, researchers exploring the peculiar pink sands of South Australia have made a breakthrough that takes them back in time to a previously undiscovered mountain range hidden beneath the ice of Antarctica.
During a 2021 field trip, geologists from the University of Adelaide, Stijn Glorie and Martin Hand, embarked on an exploration of Petrel Cove, located along the stunning Fleurieu Peninsula. To their surprise, they encountered striking patches of pink sand with a unique composition derived from garnet, a gemstone formed deep within the Earth’s crust through processes akin to those that create diamonds.
The team, including PhD student Sharmaine Verhaert, took samples back to their laboratory for analysis. They quickly realized that this pink garnet sand could not have originated from the beach itself, as the necessary geological conditions were absent. Additionally, they ruled out the possibility of the sand being transported over long oceanic distances, which would likely have eroded it.
Verhaert utilized isochron dating techniques to determine the age of the garnet rocks and was astonished to find they dated back approximately 590 million years, placing them in the Ediacaran period. This finding was particularly intriguing as there were no known Ediacran garnets in South Australia.
Upon further investigation, the researchers uncovered connections to the ancient supercontinent Gondwana, which was once a colossal landmass melding Australia and Antarctica. The glacial movements from the Transantarctic Mountains in East Antarctica have left deposits along the beaches in South Australia. This glacial flow moved substantial sediment and rock across vast distances.
Their research revealed that some garnet deposits at Hallett Cove Conservation Park and Kangaroo Island matched the age of the pink sands discovered at Petrel Cove. Bringing all these pieces together, the researchers concluded that the garnets likely originated from this East Antarctic region, linking the pink sand of South Australia to this ancient glacier activity.
However, prior geological surveys suggested that the Transantarctic mountain range is too young to be the source of these sands. To delve deeper into how Verhaert and her team traced the origin of the garnets back to their newfound, buried Antarctic mountain range, be sure to tune in to the latest episode of the USAZINE Podcast.
This ongoing research not only sheds light on the geological history of our planet but also underscores the enduring mysteries of Earth’s geological formations, igniting curiosity and appreciation for the natural world.
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