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Since childhood, we’ve been taught that there are seven continents, but new discoveries suggest that Earth may have only six. Find out how this research is transforming our understanding of the planet’s geography!
New research published in the journal Gondwana Research is sparking debate among geologists by proposing that the number of continents may not be what we have always believed. According to the study, Earth may have six continents, challenging the belief that North America and Europe have already completely separated.
The surprising discovery
The study, led by Dr Jordan Phethean from the University of Derby, challenges traditional assumptions about the separation of plates tectonics of North America and Eurasia.
According to Dr. Phethean, these two plates are still moving apart, contrary to the prevailing view that this separation occurred 52 million years ago.
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In other words, North America and Europe may still be geologically connected and should therefore be seen as part of a single continent. This statement is surprising, as it changes the way we understand the division of continents in the past and even the present.
Iceland's role in the process
The research focused especially on Iceland, which until then was considered a volcanic island formed around 60 million years ago.
The prevailing theory was that the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a tectonic boundary between the North American and Eurasian plates, triggered the formation of Iceland, via a hotspot in the Earth's mantle.
However, new studies show that Iceland, along with the region called Greenland Iceland Faroe Ridge (GIFR), contains fragments of the tectonic plates of Europe and North America. This indicates that these areas are not independent, but part of a much larger tectonic structure.
The concept of “ROMP” and the lost continent
Scientists have coined the term “Rifted Oceanic Magmatic Plateau” (ROMP) to describe the newly discovered geological feature.
This structure, according to Phethean and his team, significantly changes the way we understand how continents form. The study suggests that pieces of a lost continent are submerged beneath the ocean surface, which Dr. Phethean compared to the mythical Atlantis, given the scale and significance of the discovery.
Iceland and Africa: an unexpected link
Another intriguing point of the research was the geological similarity between Iceland and the Afar volcanic region in Africa. According to the study, both areas share similar tectonic characteristics.
This reinforces the idea that the separation between the North American and European plates has not yet been completed, suggesting a deep connection between continents that are apparently very far apart.
If these findings are confirmed, the idea that continents are constantly moving will be taken to another level. Europe and North America may be more interconnected than previously thought, and the final separation may still be underway.
Future implications and the need for further studies
Phethean admits that his findings are controversial, but he firmly believes that his conclusions are well-founded.It’s a bold hypothesis, but we believe the data support this theory. There is evidence that the GIFR contains significant continental crust, which suggests that the tectonic plate separation may not have occurred in the way we imagine.”, he stated.
The research team is still in the early stages of their investigation and plans to conduct further analyses. To validate their theory, they are studying volcanic rocks from Iceland and using computer simulations to better understand the process that led to the formation of ROMP.
If this research continues to yield favorable data, it could change the way geological science views Earth's past and future.
Moving Continents and the Future of Earth
This isn’t the first time Dr Phethean has stumbled upon a stunning discovery. Previously, he identified a “proto-microcontinent” between Canada and Greenland, buried in the Davis Strait, that is believed to be the size of England. This shows how complex and ever-evolving plate tectonic dynamics are.
Rifting—the formation of fissures that divide land masses—and the creation of microcontinents provide crucial clues to scientists. These events help us better understand how continents behave, as well as providing valuable information about the availability of natural resources in the future.
Based on this new study, our understanding of the continents may need a major overhaul. The idea that North America and Europe are still in the process of separating challenges long-held beliefs and opens up new horizons for studying Earth's dynamics.
If scientists confirm these findings, it may be that the world map as we know it needs to be redrawn, offering a new perspective on how continents form and evolve.
Given this evidence, it is clear that geology still has much to teach us about our planet. And, who knows, the discovery of new “lost continents” in the near future could change our view of Earth forever.
