Scientists discover 120-million-year-old Earth section: Here's how it could change what we know about our planet
tectonic plate that was thought to be lost for millions of years has been discovered in Borneo by geologists, bringing new insights into Earth’s ancient history. The plate, named Pontus, dates back 120 million years, according to a study led by Suzanna van de Lagemaat, a graduate geologist at Utrecht University, and her supervisor, Douwe van Hinsbergen. The discovery, based on geological data collected from the mountainous regions of Borneo, sheds light on the movements of tectonic plates that once formed part of the Earth’s crust.
Van de Lagemaat said, «We thought we were dealing with relics of a lost plate that we already knew about. But our magnetic lab research on those rocks indicated that our finds were originally from much farther north, and had to be remnants of a different, previously unknown plate.»
Tracing the Lost Plate
The discovery came after Van de Lagemaat's detailed analysis of rock formations in Borneo, where she found traces of the Pontus plate. She explained that magnetic research conducted in their lab helped them realize that the rocks had come from a northern location, providing proof of the existence of the previously unknown Pontus plate.
To deepen their understanding of the plate’s origin, Van de Lagemaat and her team studied the Junction Region, a complex zone of tectonic activity involving Japan, Borneo, the Philippines, New Guinea, and New Zealand. This region, known for its intricate tectonic plate movements, was essential to reconstruct the historical movements of Pontus and other
