Geologists Uncover Key Evidence of Ancient Global 'Snowball Earth'

New findings from Colorado suggest massive glaciers covered the planet during the Cryogenian Period, impacting Earth's climate and life evolution.

Researchers from the University of Colorado Boulder discovered physical evidence supporting the Snowball Earth hypothesis in the Tava sandstones of Colorado's Rocky Mountains.
The study used laser ablation mass spectrometry to date the rocks, revealing they were forced underground between 690 and 660 million years ago by massive glaciers.
The findings provide the first evidence that glaciers reached the equatorial regions during the Sturtian glaciation, a key period within the Cryogenian.
This period of global freezing is believed to have set the stage for the evolution of complex multicellular life following the thaw.
The research team aims to encourage further exploration of similar features across North America to enhance understanding of Snowball Earth's global impact.