Scientist mapping ‘lost’ continent off Australia shocked at findings

Dr Gürer explained that the difference between a continent and the ocean floor was about the make-up of the rocks found in each, with continental rock tending to have more silicates and aluminium minerals than oceanic crust.

Loading

“When Zealandia broke apart, it broke apart because there was an ocean basin that opened, and we’re trying to see if the nature of that basin at its base is oceanic,” she said.

“With the magnetic screening we’ve been doing, we can actually see the magnetism that is stored in basalt, and from that get an idea about the age and also the fabric of these rocks.”

The research team spent 28 days on the research vessel Falkor conducting the research, which included taking samples of the sea floor and the…