Geologists found an ancient continental fragment filled with diamonds

Diamond-encrusted patterns have been found on an island in Canada, a fragment of Earth's ancient continental crust.

A piece of the North Atlantic continent (NAC) was found by geologists while screening diamond exploration samples from the southern part of Baffin Island, Canada.

NAC is an ancient part of the Earth's crust, located on top of the northern hemisphere, from Scotland to Canada's Labrador region, deep underground.

Researchers believe that the NAC formed 2.7 billion years ago and that the continental plate broke about 150 million years ago.

Evidence of ancient crust - previously found in Scotland, Greenland and Labrador.

Picture 1 of Geologists found an ancient continental fragment filled with diamonds

Researchers from the University of British Columbia said the rock samples from Baffin Island - Canada (pictured) were like "a missing piece."

Picture 2 of Geologists found an ancient continental fragment filled with diamonds

Rocks from the North Atlantic - part of the Earth's crust, deep underground, stretching from the southern tip of Baffin Island to northern Scotland.

This fragment adds about 10% to the extension of the NAC and also helps to recreate the mysterious shapes of the ancient continental crust.

'The mineral composition in the North Atlantic is unique and unmistakable,' says geologist Maya Kopylova of the University of British Columbia.

The NAC was like a single continent before it was split into many fragments by emerging seas and oceans, and the same process currently separates the Arabian Peninsula from East Africa, Professor Kopylova.

Kimberlite stone samples - described as a major target of the diamond exploration team. They formed millions of years ago at a depth of 150-400 km. These volcanic rock samples are brought to the surface by geological and chemical forces, sometimes with diamonds in them.

Picture 3 of Geologists found an ancient continental fragment filled with diamonds

An example of kimberlite (pictured), a volcanic rock containing diamonds.It is valuable to diamond retailers, and kimberlite samples can help recreate the shape of ancient continents.

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Update 25 March 2020
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