Unraveling the mysteries of the Melanesian Boundary Plateau
At the bottom of the Pacific Ocean, an extraordinary structure has formed. Scientists are unsure what it is and continue to observe it. It is 120 million years old and could be key to Earth's history.
Even though humanity strives to solve the mysteries of the Universe and increasingly ventures into outer space, we have yet to uncover all the secrets that Earth itself holds. Researchers are focused on an extraordinary structure hidden beneath the Pacific, whose surface area exceeds 200,000 square kilometres, comparable to the size of Great Britain. This formation is called the Melanesian Boundary Plateau.
From an article published in "Earth and Planetary Science Letters," we learn that the MBP is an extraordinary geological formation whose origins date back to the time of the dinosaurs. Scientists, by examining rock samples extracted from this region, have determined that the structure began forming in the Cretaceous period, about 120 million years ago.
A series of volcanic lava eruptions during this time gave rise to numerous underwater mountains. The next phase occurred 56-34 million years ago, when volcanic activity led to the creation of new mountains and islands, which eventually eroded and sank.
The third phase of the plateau's formation took place between 23 and 5 million years ago, and its latest phase has been ongoing for about the last 5 million years, possibly continuing to this day. Although the existence of this region has been known for some time, scientists point out that many such formations develop over millions of years without significant environmental impact, which has so far limited extensive research on the MBP.
Recent analyses suggest that at least 25 distinct volcanic structures contributed to the formation of the plateau. However, to better understand the history and evolution of Earth, scientists must continue their research to verify whether the current stage of the MBP's development is truly the last one that will ever occur.
Exploring the mysteries of the MBP will also help scientists better understand tectonic mechanisms, which are key to analyzing the processes leading to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Scientists will need to undertake many more expeditions to collect more samples from this extraordinary geological "birthmark" on Earth.
