Learn the mystery of the 7th continent disappearing 75 million years ago

A group of scientists began a two-month journey to investigate the huge continent that once connected Australia and New Zealand 75 million years ago.

Telegraph said the Australian National University team today set out to learn about the history and structure of the newly discovered continent, called Zealandia in eastern Australia, including New Zealand and New Caledonia.

Zealandia has an area of ​​about 5 million square kilometers, the seventh continent on Earth . It is also the smallest, youngest, thinnest and most submerged continent (with 94% of the continent below sea level).

Professor Sutherland, Victoria University, Wellington said a drill will collect sediments about 300-790m deep to learn about the transformation of Zealandia for tens of millions of years.

The team hopes their trip will provide more insights into the Pacific fire belt, an area prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions as well as fractures after the continent of Zealandia separates.

Zealandia is the new continent discovered on Earth.(Photo: GSA Today).

Professor Neville Exon, Australian National University, said the expedition will also shed light on the major changes in global plate tectonics, starting with the Pacific ring of fire formed 53 million years ago. year, then the continent of Zealandia is said to have stopped drifting.

Research results will also help scientists to better understand climate issues, oceanographic history, extreme climatic regions, seabed life, stratigraphic tectonics and dynamic regions. soil, movement of islands and ocean trenches.

The journey will last from July 28 to the end of September. Preliminary research information will be published when the drill ship hits Hobart harbor.

Zealandia, including the present-day Lord Howe Rise , was part of Australia 75 million years ago. Then this continent begins to separate and move gradually to the northeast. This shift stopped 53 million years ago.

Zealandia converges 4 characteristics of a continent: higher altitude and density than the oceanic crust, with the presence of 3 types of rocks (volcanic rock, metamorphic rocks and sediments), with presence large enough.

The concept of "Zealandia" was mentioned by scientists in 1995. They have been studying for the past decade to claim that it consists of a geologic shell large enough to be called a continent.

The Earth is often thought to have six continents, including Africa, Asia - Europe, North America, South America, Antarctica, Australia. Statistics can vary according to different arrangements and concepts.