Scientists Discover 620-Mile-Tall Mountains Beneath Earth's Surface

Jan 24, 2025, 03:20 PM

Scientists have discovered two massive underground structures, referred to as Large Low Seismic Velocity Provinces (LLSVPs), located 1,200 miles beneath Earth's surface at the boundary between the core and mantle under Africa and the Pacific Ocean. These structures, which are over 100 times taller than Mount Everest, reach heights of approximately 620 miles (1,000 kilometers). The LLSVPs are composed of hot, dense rock and have been found to slow down seismic waves, but with less damping than expected, resulting in louder seismic tones. This suggests they are made of large mineral grains, making them highly stable and possibly billions of years old, potentially dating back to Earth's formation. The structures are surrounded by a "graveyard" of subducted tectonic plates. Researchers propose that these formations may serve as reservoirs of primordial material or remnants of a Mars-sized planet, Theia, that collided with Earth billions of years ago, contributing to the moon's creation. The findings challenge previous assumptions about mantle convection and Earth's internal dynamics.