This is excellent geo-science research theory, sparking additional likely insights, in other corners of the globe -- presently detailed.
The notion is that a large rocky world impacted Earth billions of years ago, and sheared off what became our moon. But it now seems likely that parts of that "Theia" proto-planet were shoved deeply into our mantle, but not fully melted and mixed into our magma layer -- thus high iron content shards of Theia deep under Africa and parts of the South Pacific, now make our magnetic readings. . . lumpy. Cool stuff, via CNN:
. . .If the theory is correct, it would not only provide additional details to fill out the giant-impact hypothesis but also answer a lingering question for geophysicists.
They were already aware that there are two massive, distinct blobs that are embedded deep within the Earth. The masses — called large low-velocity provinces, or LLVPs — were first detected in the 1980s. One lies beneath Africa and another below the Pacific Ocean. . . .
These blobs are thousands of kilometers wide and likely more dense with iron compared with the surrounding mantle, making them stand out when measured by seismic waves. But the origins of the blobs — each of which are larger than the moon — remain a mystery to scientists.
But for Dr. Qian Yuan, a geophysicist and postdoctoral fellow at the California Institute of Technology and the new study’s lead author, his understanding of LLVPs forever changed when he attended a 2019 seminar at Arizona State University, his alma mater, that outlined the giant-impact hypothesis. . . .
So it goes. . . as I said yesterday, curiosity sparks advances in even unrelated fields, from time to time. [Earlier coverage -- of the Pole's shifts (2019), and of the "anomalies" -- right here on this blog.]
Now, go be excellent to one another. [And duly corrected, indeed -- re being charitable.] Smile. . . .
नमस्ते
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