‘A 120-year-old mystery under our feet’: Scientists uncover ancient Pontus Plate hidden deep under Borneo
Produced & Designed by: Manoj Kumar
Ancient Remnant
Scientists have discovered remnants of a 120-million-year-old tectonic plate, now called Pontus, hidden beneath Borneo. This ancient piece of Earth’s crust dates back to the time when supercontinent Pangaea began breaking apart.
Pontus Unveiled
The discovery of Pontus was made by Suzanna van de Lagemaat, a geologist at Utrecht University, and her supervisor. They analyzed rock formations in northern Borneo, leading to the identification of this long-lost plate.
Unexpected Find
Van de Lagemaat initially thought she was studying remnants of a known lost plate. But magnetic research on Borneo rocks revealed signs of a previously unknown tectonic plate—Pontus—originating much farther north.
Vast Dimensions
Researchers estimate that the Pontus plate, now swallowed by other plates, once stretched beneath an ocean separating Eurasia and Australia. It was about a quarter of the size of today’s Pacific Ocean, based on reconstructions.
Supercontinent Puzzle
Pontus existed before the breakup of Pangaea. As this ancient landmass split, Pontus gradually disappeared under other plates, contributing to the tectonic shifts that moved regions like Borneo and the Philippines.
Junction Region
Van de Lagemaat’s study centered on the Junction Region—a hotspot of tectonic activity stretching from Japan to New Zealand. This complex area holds clues to the ancient movements that shaped Earth’s current geography.
Magnetic Clues
Through magnetic lab research, the team discovered that the rocks from Borneo carried a distinct magnetic signature, indicating their origins in a much older and distant part of the Earth’s crust.
Tectonic Time-Lapse
Using geological data, Van de Lagemaat reconstructed a video clip that tracks the movement of tectonic plates from the dinosaur age to today. It visualizes Pontus’ journey as it vanished beneath shifting continents.
Unveiling Earth’s Secrets
This discovery is part of a larger effort to understand hidden parts of our planet’s history, including submerged oceans and lost continents, revealing how Earth’s surface has changed over millions of years.