Ancient Seafloor Discovery Challenges Earth’s History

A groundbreaking study by the University of Maryland has unveiled remnants of an ancient seafloor beneath the Pacific Ocean, reshaping our understanding of Earth’s interior, SciTech Daily reported.

Using advanced seismic imaging, researchers identified a previously unexplored subduction zone at the East Pacific Rise, where material from the prehistoric seafloor sank approximately 250 million years ago.

Led by postdoctoral researcher Jingchuan Wang, the team discovered an unusually thick mantle transition zone, suggesting that subducted material moves through the Earth much slower than previously thought—at about half the expected speed. This thickened area may also explain the structure of the Pacific Large Low Shear Velocity Province, a significant region in the lower mantle.

The findings, published in Science Advances, open new avenues for research into ancient geological processes and their impact on surface geology. Wang emphasizes that this discovery is just the beginning, with many more ancient structures likely waiting to be uncovered within Earth’s depths.