Scientists have long puzzled over the origins of giant sand mounds beneath the North Sea, but a new study has shed light on this phenomenon. Researchers have discovered that these massive structures were created by a geological process that defies conventional understanding.
The findings suggest that the mounds sank millions of years ago, lifting up older “ooze” beneath, composed primarily of fossil remains from ancient microorganisms. This unusual process, dubbed “sinkites,” involved dense sand sinking into lighter sediments, effectively flipping the expected layering of rock and sediment.
This discovery has significant implications for our understanding of carbon storage options in the region. Scientists will need to better comprehend how these sinkites formed before pursuing any carbon capture efforts. The study’s authors believe that this knowledge could significantly impact how we assess underground reservoirs and fluid migration.
The research team used a three-dimensional seismic dataset and rock samples to examine the mounds and surrounding regions. Their findings reveal that the structures were surrounded by older, low-density “ooze” and chemically similar to nearby sands that appear later in the geological record. The process has jumbled the expected pattern of the geological record, with sunken sands creating huge mounds beneath the sea.
This groundbreaking study reveals a previously unknown geological process on a massive scale, offering new insights into the Earth’s crust and its ability to move sediments and fluids in unexpected ways.
Source: https://www.livescience.com/planet-earth/scientists-discover-that-mysterious-giant-structures-beneath-the-north-sea-seemingly-defy-what-we-know-about-geology