There is no denying the fact that scientists and researchers play a crucial role in deciphering many of our planet’s evolutionary puzzles. Among these mysteries is the origin of beaches and landmasses, a topic that has continually evolved over time.As per a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences by a team of Indian, Australian, and South African scientists, the first continents on Earth emerged approximately 3.2 billion years ago. This finding contradicts previous studies that suggested continents appeared only 2.5 billion years ago. What’s particularly intriguing is the claim by researchers that the world’s first beach might have arisen in the Singhbhum district of Jharkhand, India.
Lead scientist Priyadarshi Chowdhury from Monash University in Australia focused on studying sedimentary rocks from the Singhbhum craton (a stable part of a continental crust). By analysing the chemical structure of zircon grains within these ancient rocks, dating back 3.1 billion years, the team inferred their origins from rivers and oceans, suggesting the presence of continental land at that time. They concluded that the Singhbhum craton rose above sea level approximately 3.3 to 3.2 billion years ago, possibly marking one of Earth’s oldest beaches.
According to reports, evidence was found in the form of sandstones in Singhbhum, bearing geological signatures of ancient beaches dating back 3.2 billion years. Contrary to the widely held belief that plate tectonics drove landmass formation, the study suggests that magma injections from Earth’s depths played a significant role in creating the first continents in this region.
The scientists explained in their study, “While debated, it’s broadly agreed upon that continents began emerging above sea level nearly 2.5 billion years ago due to plate tectonics. Here, we integrate the igneous and sedimentary history of Archean cratons to demonstrate that stable continental landmasses started to emerge 3.3 to 3.2 billion years ago, over 700 million years earlier than previously thought.”
This groundbreaking research pushes back the timeline for continental formation by 700 million years, offering deeper insights into Earth’s evolution and its relationship with the atmosphere and oceans, crucial in the context of ongoing climate change challenges.
Until now, the prevailing understanding placed the age of continents at around 2.5 billion years. However, this recent study by scientists from India, Australia, and South Africa suggests an earlier emergence by approximately 700 million years. The lead scientist published these findings in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, highlighting that the first continents indeed formed nearly 3.2 billion years ago, with evidence discovered in Jharkhand, India.
Source: Times Of india