Massive Ancient Rock Formations Discovered Deep in Earth's Mantle

Two continent-sized regions, hotter and older than surrounding mantle rock, challenge long-held theories about Earth's interior.

Researchers have identified two vast rock formations, known as Large Low-Shear-Velocity Provinces (LLSVPs), located 2,000 kilometers beneath Africa and the Pacific Ocean.
These structures, up to 1,000 kilometers tall, are significantly hotter and older than nearby subducted tectonic plates, with origins potentially dating back over a billion years.
The LLSVPs are composed of larger mineral grains, making them more rigid and resistant to mantle convection, unlike the surrounding 'slab graveyard' of sunken tectonic plates.
Seismic studies reveal these formations slow down earthquake waves and may serve as the origin points for mantle plumes, which drive volcanic activity on Earth's surface.
This discovery challenges traditional views of the Earth's mantle as a well-mixed, fast-flowing layer, suggesting a more complex and static internal structure.