A groundbreaking study has found that steel slag from old furnaces can fuse into solid rock in just 35 years, overturning long-held understanding of the natural sedimentary loop. Geologists at the University of Glasgow led by Dr. Amanda Owen have discovered a new type of rock formation, dubbed the “anthropoclastic rock cycle,” which mimics the natural process but accelerates it due to the pre-mixed chemistry of waste.
The discovery was made along England’s Cumbrian coast, where a discarded can tab has transformed into solid rock. The study also identified similar formations in 14 British sites and on other continents, including Hawaii. These findings add to the evidence that human activity is altering Earth’s surface, marking a new geologic epoch called the Anthropocene.
The rapid formation of this new rock type has significant implications for coastal ecosystems and marine life. It can alter tidal zones, disrupt spawning grounds for fish, and stress local invertebrates. However, some researchers suggest that curated slag reefs could serve as low-cost carbon sinks, absorbing carbon dioxide through cementation reactions.
To better understand the growth rates of these formations, scientists are planning surveys using drones and ground-penetrating radar to track changes under different wave climates. The study’s findings highlight the need for increased monitoring and regulation of industrial waste to mitigate its environmental impact.
The discovery also underscores the ongoing debate about whether human activity has entered a new geologic epoch marked by technogenic strata. As steel production continues to top two billion tons per year, producing 400 million tons of slag, it is essential to address the consequences of this new rock formation on our planet’s surface and ecosystems.
Source: https://www.earth.com/news/new-type-of-earth-rock-is-created-by-human-industrial-waste-and-forms-in-just-40-years