In an exciting revelation, scientists from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, and Niigata University, Japan, have unearthed remnants of an ancient ocean hidden within the Himalayan mountains.
“Time Capsule for Paleo Oceans”
The team stumbled upon water droplets preserved in mineral deposits dating back a staggering 600 million years. These mineral deposits, rich in calcium and magnesium carbonates, are like a “time capsule for paleo oceans,” says Prakash Chandra Arya, the lead author and a Ph.D. student at IISc’s Centre for Earth Sciences (CEaS).
Clues to a Mysterious Oxygenation Event
The discovery could unlock crucial insights into a significant oxygenation event that occurred in Earth’s distant past. Around 700 to 500 million years ago, our planet underwent a prolonged period of glaciation known as the Snowball Earth glaciation, followed by the Second Great Oxygenation Event.
Connecting the Dots
Connecting the dots between these events has long been a challenge due to the scarcity of well-preserved fossils and the disappearance of ancient oceans. However, the newly discovered marine rocks in the Himalayas might hold the missing pieces to this ancient puzzle.
Unraveling the Calcium Deficiency
During the Snowball Earth glaciation, sedimentary basins experienced a prolonged calcium deficiency, likely caused by reduced riverine input. This deficiency led to increased magnesium levels, and as magnesium deposits crystallized, they trapped the water from the ancient ocean.
Impact on Oxygen Levels
The calcium deficiency might have created favorable conditions for slow-growing photosynthetic cyanobacteria, which began releasing more oxygen into the atmosphere. This contribution could have played a crucial role in the Second Great Oxygenation Event and the evolution of complex life forms.
Vast Research Efforts
The scientists conducted extensive research across the western Kumaon Himalayas, from Amritpur to the Milam glacier and Dehradun to the Gangotri glacier region. Laboratory analysis confirmed that the deposits indeed originated from precipitation from ancient ocean water, ruling out other sources like submarine volcanic activity.
A Window into Earth’s Past
These findings offer valuable information about the chemical and isotopic composition of ancient oceans. They hold immense potential for climate modeling and provide unparalleled insights into the evolution of oceans and life on Earth.
The discovery of an ancient ocean in the Himalayas marks a significant milestone in our understanding of Earth’s history, and it opens up exciting avenues for further research and exploration.
