Indian, Japanese scientists discover remnants of 600 million-year-old river in Himalayas

Indian, Japanese scientists discover 600-million-year-old ocean water in the Himalayas

A team of researchers from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and Niigata University in Japan have made a remarkable discovery in the Himalayas: droplets of water trapped in mineral deposits that were likely left behind from an ancient ocean that existed around 600 million years ago. This finding could provide valuable information about the Earth's past oceans, climate, and life.

How did they find the ancient ocean water?

The researchers were studying the tectonic evolution of the Himalayan and Nagaland belts, which are part of the collision zone between the Indian and Eurasian plates. They were looking for evidence of marine rocks that could have been deposited during the Precambrian era, a period that spans from the formation of the Earth to about 540 million years ago.

They found deposits of calcium and magnesium carbonates, which are common minerals formed by precipitation from seawater. These deposits were located across a long stretch of the western Kumaon Himalayas, extending from Amritpur to the Milam glacier, and Dehradun to the Gangotri glacier region.

Using extensive laboratory analysis, they were able to confirm that these deposits are a product of precipitation from ancient ocean water, and not from other sources, such as the Earth's mantle or meteoric water. They also found that these deposits contained tiny droplets of water trapped in their pore spaces, which could be extracted and analyzed.

Why is this discovery important?

The discovery of ancient ocean water in the Himalayas is important for several reasons. First, it can provide information about the chemical and isotopic composition of the Earth's past oceans, which have so far only been theorized or modeled. Such information can help answer questions related to the evolution of oceans, and even life, in Earth's history.

Second, it can shed light on one of the major events that shaped the Earth's climate and biosphere: the Snowball Earth glaciation. This was a period between 700 and 500 million years ago when thick sheets of ice covered most of the planet for an extended time. This was followed by an increase in the amount of oxygen in the atmosphere, called the Second Great Oxygenation Event, which eventually led to the emergence of complex life forms.

The researchers suggest that their findings can provide a possible explanation for how these events were connected. They propose that during the Snowball Earth glaciation, there was no flow or calcium input in the oceans, leading to an increase in magnesium levels. When the ice melted, calcium-rich water flooded into the oceans, causing rapid precipitation of calcium carbonates. This process could have released large amounts of oxygen into the atmosphere, triggering the oxygenation event.

What are the implications and future directions?

The discovery of ancient ocean water in the Himalayas opens up new avenues for research and exploration. The researchers hope that their study will inspire more investigations into other regions where similar deposits may exist, such as Antarctica, Africa, and Australia. They also plan to conduct more detailed analyses of the water droplets to determine their exact age, origin, and evolution.

The discovery also has implications for understanding the Earth's climate system and its response to global changes. By comparing the past and present oceans, scientists can gain insights into how they regulate temperature, carbon cycle, and life on Earth. Such insights can also help improve climate models and predictions for the future.

The discovery of ancient ocean water in the Himalayas is a testament to the power of scientific curiosity and collaboration. It shows how exploring the hidden secrets of our planet can reveal fascinating stories about its past, present, and future.

Source: 

(1) Indian, Japanese scientists discover 600-million-year-old ocean water .... https://newsonjapan.com/html/newsdesk/article/138150.php.
(2) Indian, Japanese scientists discover 600-million-year-old ocean water in Himalayas; findings to give clues on Earth's past. https://www.msn.com/en-in/news/techandscience/indian-japanese-scientists-discover-600-million-year-old-ocean-water-in-himalayas-findings-to-give-clues-on-earths-past/ar-AA1evjRi.
(6) Indian, Japanese scientists discover 600-million-year-old ocean water .... https://newsonjapan.com/html/newsdesk/article/138150.php.
Tags
Muskan

Posted by Muskan

Post a Comment

0 Comments