Unveiling the Enigmatic Origins of Zealandia

Geologists have traced the origins of Zealandia, a submerged chunk of the ancient supercontinent Gondwana, using geochemical and isotope data from newly dredged rock samples and seismic readings. The research suggests that Zealandia's edge subducted under West Antarctica up to a quarter of a billion years ago, creating similarities in geological patterns. Contrary to previous suggestions, magnetic anomalies in the region are not related to this event. Instead, the Campbell Magnetic Anomaly System is believed to have arisen from extensive stretching between different parts of Gondwana, eventually leading to the formation of Zealandia's surrounding sea floors. The findings provide a foundation for further analysis of the stretching of the Earth's crust in this region.