How Scientists Accidentally Discovered This “Sixth Ocean”
The answer lies in the constant tremors and movements our planet experiences.
There are five oceans on Earth’s surface: the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, Arctic, and Southern Oceans. However, scientists have recently discovered a body of water with a volume three times greater than all the surface oceans combined, resembling a “sixth ocean.” Yet, instead of existing on the planet’s surface, this water has been found between the transition zone of Earth’s upper and lower mantle.
The Sixth Ocean Reveale
Recently, groundbreaking scientific discoveries have been happening at a rapid pace, from astronomical research into the insides of black holes to the majestic “eighth continent” and a North American lake larger than all the Great Lakes combined.
Beneath Earth’s crust, there’s a colossal ocean.
However, perhaps the most astonishing discovery is this: deep beneath our feet, under Earth’s crust, lies a colossal ocean. This discovery was made by geophysicist Steve Jacobsen from Northwestern University and seismologist Brandon Schmandt from the University of New Mexico.
At an incredible depth of approximately 400 miles beneath Earth’s surface, there’s an abundant reservoir of water stored within ringwoodite rock. This fascinating discovery is reshaping our understanding of Earth’s water cycle and its complex geophysical processes.
What’s particularly unique is that this water doesn’t conform to our conventional classifications of solid, liquid, or gas. Instead, it exists in a mysterious fourth state—much like inside a sponge.
Geophysicist Steve Jacobsen, a key member of the research team, explained, “Ringwoodite is like a sponge, soaking up water. There is something very special about the crystal structure of ringwoodite that allows it to attract hydrogen and trap water.” This statement provides insight into the unique, almost magnetic nature of this remarkable mineral.
“I think we are finally seeing evidence for a whole-Earth water cycle, which may help explain the vast amount of liquid water on our planet’s surface that sustains life. Scientists have been looking for this elusive deep water for decades,” he further explained.
How Did Scientists Find the Sixth Ocean?
One might ask, how did scientists stumble upon this sunken treasure? The answer, interestingly, lies in the continuous tremors and earthquakes our planet experiences.
Researchers, while delving into Earth’s seismic activity, realized that seismographs—devices designed to detect and record earthquakes—were picking up shockwaves emanating from beneath Earth’s surface. Through meticulous analysis of this data, researchers concluded that these waves were interacting with water contained within ringwoodite. To provide some perspective on the sheer volume of this subterranean water body: if ringwoodite rock contained just 1% water, Earth’s mantle would harbor a volume of water three times the total volume of all its surface oceans.
Ringwoodite is a high-pressure form of the mineral olivine (Mg2SiO4) that occurs at depths of 520 to 660 km beneath Earth’s surface in the transition zone.
While our blue planet’s vast oceans, rivers, and lakes have always captivated humanity, it is this hidden ocean, lying silently deep within Earth’s mantle, that is now prompting scientists to re-evaluate our understanding of Earth. Such discoveries remind us of the endless mysteries our blue planet holds and the exciting, literally uncharted waters of scientific exploration that lie ahead.
Ringwoodite – Precious Yet Elusive
Ringwoodite, a high-pressure mineral with a captivating blue hue, is named after the Australian geologist Alfred Ringwood. It forms deep within Earth’s mantle at depths of 410 to 660 kilometers (250-410 miles). What makes ringwoodite truly remarkable is its ability to store water within its crystal structure.
A sample of ringwoodite was found in 2008 in the Juina area of Mato Grosso, Brazil, where artisanal miners unearthed a diamond from shallow river gravels.
The diamond, brought to Earth’s surface by a deep-sourced volcanic rock called kimberlite, contained a ringwoodite inclusion.
Pearson’s team (one of the world’s leading experts in the study of deep-earth diamond-bearing rocks) was searching for another mineral when they acquired this dirty-looking, commercially worthless 3mm wide brown diamond.
The ringwoodite itself, invisible to the naked eye and buried beneath the surface, was fortunately discovered in 2009 by John McNeill, Pearson’s graduate student.
Pearson stated, “The object is so tiny, it’s incredibly hard to find, let alone extract it. So, this discovery really was a stroke of luck, much like many other scientific discoveries.”