Gamburtsev Subglacial Mountains:
New data published in Earth and Planetary Science Letters reveals the Gamburtsev Subglacial Mountains (GSM) were formed over 500 million years ago, during the assembly of the Gondwana supercontinent.
- The Gamburtsev Subglacial Mountains are a completely buried mountain range beneath the East Antarctic Ice Sheet, located at its highest point.
- These mountains were first discovered in 1958 by a Soviet seismic expedition.
- Unlike the Transantarctic Mountains, which are partially visible above the ice, the Gamburtsev Mountains remain entirely buried, concealed under several kilometres of ice.
- Typically, mountains form at tectonic plate boundaries due to collision or subduction, but East Antarctica has remained tectonically stable for hundreds of millions of years.
- The existence of such a massive mountain range within a stable craton posed a major puzzle for geologists.
- Scientists analysed zircon grains from sandstones deposited by ancient rivers flowing from the mountains, collected from the Prince Charles Mountains.
- Zircons contain trace uranium, which decays at a known radioactive rate, enabling accurate age determination.
- Findings show: Uplift began ~650 million years ago, Himalayan-scale peaks reached ~580 million years ago, Crustal melting and flow ceased ~500 million years ago.
