Suzanna van de Lagemaat, a geologist at Utrecht University, has successfully pieced together an erstwhile unknown tectonic plate termed Pontus. This plate was once a quarter the size of the Pacific Ocean. The discovery was made possible through extensive fieldwork spanning multiple locations, including Japan, Borneo, and the Philippines. Credit: Suzanna van de Lagemaat/Utrecht University
More than a decade ago, Van de Lagemaat’s colleagues at Utrecht University hypothesized the existence of this plate based on older tectonic plate remnants found deep in the Earth’s mantle. Using meticulous field research and an in-depth study of mountain ranges in Japan, Borneo, the Philippines, New Guinea, and New Zealand, Van de Lagemaat confirmed that oceanic remnants in northern Borneo were part of the long-theorized Pontus plate. She has now reassembled the entire plate, shedding new light on its once majestic existence.
Understanding tectonic plate movements is crucial for comprehending Earth’s geological history. These movements have had a profound impact on Earth’s paleogeography, climate evolution, and even the distribution of rare metals. Historically significant oceanic plates have vanished into Earth’s mantle through the process of subduction, leaving behind only scattered rock fragments in mountain ranges. Focusing on Earth’s most complex tectonic region surrounding the Philippines, Van de Lagemaat carried out her groundbreaking research.
The Philippines is situated at an intricate crossroads of various plate systems. Most of the region is composed of oceanic crust, but portions are elevated above sea level, displaying rocks of vastly different ages.
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The Pontus Plate’s Historical Significance
The Pontus plate was situated in the paleo-Pacific Ocean approximately 120 million years ago. Previous studies indicated that a substantial subduction zone must have separated the well-known Pacific plates in the east from the theoretical Pontus plate in the west. This hypothesis has now been corroborated through Van de Lagemaat’s investigations. Credit: Suzanna van de Lagemaat, Utrecht University
Methodology of Reconstruction
Van de Lagemaat utilized geological data to initially reconstruct the movements of present-day plates between Japan and New Zealand. This allowed her to determine the scope of plates that have vanished in the current western Pacific region. During fieldwork in northern Borneo, an unexpected revelation was made.
“We uncovered what we initially thought were remnants of a known lost plate,” Van de Lagemaat explained. “However, lab tests on these rocks showed they originated from a considerably farther northern location, indicative of a different, previously unknown plate.”
Her PhD advisor, Douwe van Hinsbergen, elaborated, “Initially, we speculated that traces of Pontus could be found in northern Japan. This theory was later disproven. The existence of Pontus only became clear after systematic reconstructions of the ‘Ring of Fire’ mountain belts were completed, stretching from Japan through New Guinea to New Zealand.”
Geographic Reach of Pontus
The remnants of Pontus are located not just in northern Borneo but also on Palawan, an island in the Western Philippines, and the South China Sea. Her research additionally revealed a unified plate tectonic system extending from southern Japan to New Zealand, which existed for at least 150 million years—a novel finding in the field.
Detecting Plates Through Seismic Activity
Former assumptions regarding the existence of Pontus were backed by the fact that a subducted plate leaves traces when it submerges into the Earth’s mantle. These traces manifest as anomalous temperature or composition zones. Seismographs can detect these anomalies through the seismic signals generated by earthquakes. As these waves traverse an anomaly, it disrupts the signal, allowing geologists to identify the existence of historical plates in the mantle. Some of these traces enable researchers to peer as far back as 300 million years into Earth’s geological past.
An 11-year-old study postulated a large subduction zone in the western paleo-Pacific Ocean, separating the identified Pacific plates from the hypothetical Pontus plate. This notion has been substantiated through the recent research conducted by Van de Lagemaat.
Reference: “Plate tectonic cross-roads: Reconstructing the Panthalassa-Neotethys Junction Region from Philippine Sea Plate and Australasian oceans and orogens” by Suzanna H.A. van de Lagemaat and Douwe J.J. van Hinsbergen, published on September 29, 2023, in Gondwana Research.
DOI: 10.1016/j.gr.2023.09.013
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Tectonic Plate Discovery
What is the main focus of the research conducted by Suzanna van de Lagemaat?
The research primarily focuses on the discovery of a previously unknown tectonic plate named Pontus. Van de Lagemaat conducted extensive fieldwork and detailed studies in regions such as Japan, Borneo, and the Philippines to substantiate the existence of this plate, which was once one-quarter the size of the Pacific Ocean.
Who predicted the existence of the Pontus plate before its discovery?
Colleagues at Utrecht University had hypothesized the existence of the Pontus plate more than a decade ago. They based their prediction on fragments of older tectonic plates found deep within the Earth’s mantle.
Where were the key geographic locations for the research?
The key geographic locations for the research included Japan, Borneo, the Philippines, New Guinea, and New Zealand. Specifically, remnants of the Pontus plate were discovered in northern Borneo.
How does the discovery of Pontus impact our understanding of Earth’s geological history?
The discovery of the Pontus plate provides valuable insights into the movements of tectonic plates, which in turn has implications for understanding Earth’s geological history, paleogeography, and climate evolution. It also sheds light on a unified tectonic system that existed for at least 150 million years, stretching from southern Japan to New Zealand.
What methodologies were used for the reconstruction of the Pontus plate?
Van de Lagemaat used geological data to map the movements of current plates in the region between Japan and New Zealand. She then conducted fieldwork in northern Borneo and employed lab tests to analyze rock samples, confirming their origin as remnants of the Pontus plate.
What are the practical implications of this discovery?
Understanding tectonic movements can offer insights into a variety of fields, including the distribution of rare metals, seismic activity predictions, and the evolution of Earth’s climate and geography.
What were the anomalies that helped predict the existence of the Pontus plate?
A subducted plate leaves behind traces in the Earth’s mantle, which manifest as zones with anomalous temperatures or compositions. These anomalies can be detected through seismic signals generated by earthquakes, aiding in the identification of historical plates in the mantle.
Is the research peer-reviewed?
Yes, the research has been published in the peer-reviewed journal Gondwana Research, with a DOI indicating its scientific validity.
How does this discovery relate to previous studies?
An earlier study had postulated the existence of a large subduction zone in the western paleo-Pacific Ocean, separating known Pacific plates from the hypothetical Pontus plate. Van de Lagemaat’s research has independently corroborated this hypothesis.
More about Tectonic Plate Discovery
- Utrecht University Research Publications
- Gondwana Research Journal
- Understanding Tectonic Plates
- Overview of Earth’s Geological History
- Seismic Anomalies and Plate Tectonics
- Paleogeography and Earth’s Climate
- Importance of Geological Research
5 comments
Hold on, so we’re talking bout a plate that existed 150 million years ago? That’s insane and it kinda reshuffles our whole understanding of earth history.
honestly, science never ceases to amaze me. it’s like, we think we know the earth and then boom, a discovery like this happens. so cool!
Wow, this is a game changer in geology. Who would’ve thought there’s still such a big tectonic plate to discover! Kudos to Van de Lagemaat and her team.
This kinda stuff just blows my mind. It’s like we still know so little about our own planet. Makes me wonder what else is hiding deep down there.
Van de Lagemaat’s on fire! First, they predicted it, and now they found it. what a time to be alive and interested in geology.