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Scientists have identified an unusually thick rock layer hidden deep below the Bermuda Triangle, offering new insight into ancient volcanic activity and challenging long held theories about how ocean islands and elevated seafloor regions are formed.
Thick rock layer found beneath Bermuda Triangle.
The discovery emerged through the analysis of seismic data produced by earthquakes. By studying how seismic waves traveled through the Earth beneath Bermuda, scientists were able to create a detailed picture of the underground structure. This method revealed an unexpectedly thick rock layer measuring about twenty kilometres, or roughly twelve point four miles, in depth.
Typically, oceanic crust transitions directly into the mantle beneath it. However, beneath Bermuda, scientists found an additional layer positioned between the crust and the deeper mantle. This rock mass has a lower density than surrounding material and appears to be embedded within the tectonic plate itself, making it a rare and surprising feature in Earth geology.
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Geologists believe this hidden layer may be a leftover product of intense volcanic activity that occurred millions of years ago. The formation is thought to date back to the time when the supercontinent Pangea began breaking apart. During that period, rising magma may have solidified beneath the crust, leaving behind this thick geological remnant that still influences the region today.
One of the most puzzling features around Bermuda is an elevated section of seafloor that rises about five hundred meters above the surrounding ocean basin. This uplift has long confused scientists because there is no evidence of recent volcanic activity in the area. The newly discovered rock layer may help explain how the island and surrounding seabed remain elevated, acting as a supportive foundation from below.
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The findings challenge traditional models of how volcanic islands form and persist. Instead of relying solely on active magma sources deep within the mantle, Bermuda may be supported by ancient material trapped inside the tectonic plate. This suggests that some islands could owe their existence to long dormant geological structures rather than ongoing volcanic processes.
The discovery raises questions about whether similar hidden layers exist beneath other islands across the world. If such structures are found elsewhere, scientists may need to revise existing ideas about plate tectonics, volcanic evolution and the long term stability of ocean islands. Bermuda may represent an extreme example, but it could help explain less obvious features in other regions.
By studying an unusual place like Bermuda, researchers gain a clearer understanding of how both typical and extreme geological processes operate. The island serves as a natural laboratory, offering insight into how ancient events continue to shape the Earth long after surface activity has ended.
