"Uncovering the Growing Dinosaur-Era Superstructure in the Pacific Ocean"
A groundbreaking study led by University of Nevada geoscientist Kevin Konrad and an international team of researchers reveals that the Melanesia Border Plateau, a 222,000 square-kilometer underwater landmass, is still growing due to ongoing crust deformation influenced by the rollback of the Pacific plate beneath the Tongan trench. The plateau's rocky bones consist of cooled magma released during the Cretaceous Normal Superchron, and its formation challenges previous notions about large igneous provinces, suggesting they may emerge slowly and silently over time. Understanding this superstructure's formation has important environmental ramifications and provides insights into Earth's climate.