Zealandia is the first continent on Earth to be completely mapped

You may think you know all the continents, but what about Zealandia?

In 2017, a previously unknown group was discovered off the beaches of New Zealand, making global headlines.

Zealandia, otherwise known as Te Reo Maui In Maori, it has an area of ​​more than 5 million square kilometres, making it twice the size of the Indian subcontinent.

You may be wondering why it wasn't discovered sooner?

The reason is that 95% of its area is submerged under the southwestern Pacific Ocean, and it disappeared long before humans existed on Earth. Only a large mountain range (the two islands of New Zealand) and some small oceanic islands are visible on the surface.

Little is known about the recently discovered continent, mainly because it is almost inaccessible. However, a team of geologists from around the world has compiled a new geological map containing Zealandia. The map was formed using a combination of rock samples extracted from the sea and geophysical mapping methods.

Geologists have discovered large sandstone formations and basalt gravel deposits, tracing the outer edges of Zealandia as they search for samples.

The sandstones are thought to be about 95 million years old, and contain older volcanic granite and gravel, suggesting that when Zealandia was dry land, rivers flowing from the volcanic highlands filled tectonic basins.

The highlands were an active volcanic range at least 30 to 50 million years ago, but were likely eroded as the sandstone was deposited.

Geologists believe Zealandia was gradually submerged by water about 40 million years ago, thanks to the discovery of basalt pebbles, which are linked to underwater volcanic activity.

A study entitled “Reconnaissance basement geology and tectonics of northern Zealandia” was published in the journal. Tectonics(2023).

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