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An ambitious project in the Taklimakan Desert in China aims to reach a depth of 11 meters to study rocks from the Cretaceous Period, revealing secrets dating back 145 million years and challenging the limits of modern engineering.
China is carrying out an impressive excavation to reach 11 meters underground. But why would anyone risk such a great deal? The answer lies hidden deep within the Earth.
The Tarim Basin and the Taklimakan Desert
The excavation is taking place in an extreme location: the Taklimakan Desert, the largest in China. This arid and challenging place is no ordinary desert. It is home to the Peat Depression, an oasis 154 meters below sea level, and the Xiaohe Tombs, one of the most fascinating archaeological sites in China.
The journey began on May 31, 2023, when Chinese scientists decided to explore Earth's past, digging through layers of rock dating back to the Cretaceous Period, 145 million years ago. This search promises reveal hidden secrets that could transform our understanding of the formation of the planet.
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Objective: Cretaceous period rocks
The main focus is to reach rocks formed in the Cretaceous period, an era when dinosaurs roamed the Earth. To do this, scientists need to cross 10 layers of rock formations. However, even if they reach 11 meters, they will be far from reaching the Earth's mantle, located 30 meters deep.
It’s no easy task. According to engineer Sun Jinsheng, the difficulty can be compared to driving a truck on two thin steel cables. The rough terrain and complicated underground conditions make the Tarim Basin one of the most challenging places on the planet for exploration.
What we can learn from deep rocks
The rocks being extracted contain minerals such as quartz and mica, formed by the magma that covers a quarter of the planet. Studying these formations can help understand how the Earth formed, evolved and arrived at its current state.
In addition to shedding light on the planet’s past, these studies also have practical implications, such as the discovery of new mineral resources. The excavation in the Tarim Basin could put China at the forefront of global geoscience.
Projects of this size require cutting edge technology. The machine used needs to drill through dense layers of rock and operate in extreme temperatures. It is a shining example of how engineering and science can overcome monumental challenges.
To give you an idea, it's like building a skyscraper backwards, on land that seems to be fighting against every advance. It's a masterpiece of planning and execution.
The future of excavations in China
Discoveries made in the Tarim Basin will not only enrich Chinese science, but also contribute to the advancement of global geology and exploration.
With this experience, China is already preparing for even more ambitious projects, with the aim of better understanding the mysteries of Earth and perhaps even other planets in the future.
China is literally digging deep into the history of our planet, and the results promise to be transformative. In a world where every scientific breakthrough brings us one step closer to understanding our origins, this excavation it's an open window to the secrets buried in the heart of the Earth.
Waiting for good results.
That's already a **** headline to draw attention to the news. It says that China has already excavated 11 meters. The report says that it WILL excavate. It is still possible to be a person of character.
Yes, you have already dug 11 meters… There are 10989 meters left to dig… What’s the problem?!?!
Hahahaha!!!!!!
10 meters is a backyard cistern!
System with C shouldn't even comment here. Go to school
You need to go to school to learn to read what is written:
CISTERN!
The guy said cistern, not system. Go back to school too, because you haven't learned to read! LOL
It doesn't say “system” but “cistern”!
The ****, the guy wrote CISTERNA and not SISTEMA, he doesn't know how to read and is trying to correct others. He paid ****.
Calm down, prisoner's lunch box
You must have your eyes inverted… he wrote CISTERN and not SYSTEM.
He doesn't know what a cistern is
Cistern! Go to school to learn how to read. How ****… it gives you zero hahahaha
Or also known as a country well…
True 🤣🤣🤣
****
It says 11 thousand meters, friend!
What's really impressive is seeing people avidly criticizing without even reading what's written properly. 11 thousand meters (eleven thousand) 11k, 11km
I think only we here read what is clearly written
True, I read all the content!!!
Still digging… because the headline uses the present tense if the goal is in the future. It would be more honest to say is drilling a well and aims to reach 11.000m.
Haha ...
Hahahaha there my ass.😂
None yet, but with time and the years to come, problems will appear, not to mention the strange sounds... lol
Eleven? I have a 22m well. I only found water! lol
Flat-Earthers don't have enough brain cells to evaluate this project.
Are you looking in the mirror? What's the point of having retarded neurons with some Internet commentators...
It's not 11 meters! It's 11.000 meters
It's not 11 meters, Brazil breaks the record for people who can't read properly, if it were a competition test they would be screwed, they've already excavated 11 thousand meters lol...
They don't know how to read or vote.
I read 11 thousand meters!
Also known as a country well…..
11 thousand meters, already excavated…
Relax...it's all a lie...lol
Merry Christmas.
Fake headline, just to draw attention.
They are looking for rare earths, that “science” thing is just a pretext.
These are not rare earths found on the surface, the goal is Geothermal Energy, an inexhaustible source of energy millions of times greater than all known oil and coal!
China has only dug 1,1 meters and people are fighting.
I have no doubt that these are just rehearsals to try to reach the core of the earth.
I'll go further, or to make a hole to place intercontinental range rockets...
China is always an example of overcoming and challenging imperialism. Even though the article may not be entirely reliable, there are thousands of other brilliant news stories about China that could be cited. Anyone who does not admire China in the 21st century must be a ****.
Good