mauritia

Latest

  • Dominic Sansoni/Majority World/UIG via Getty Images

    Scientists may have discovered a lost continent

    by 
    Jon Fingas
    Jon Fingas
    02.06.2017

    As much as we humans think we know about Earth's ancient composition, it's clear we have a lot to learn. Researchers now say they have evidence of a lost continent, Mauritia. The team found rocks on Mauritius with embedded zircon crystals that were almost 2 billion years old, or far older than the island itself ("just" 9 million years old) -- a hint that there's a continental crust lurking miles underneath. Most likely, the crystals were carried up to the surface by volcanic magma.