Mumbai, September 27: Geoscientists have uncovered a continent that has been lurking in plain sight for about 375 years. According to Phys.org, a tiny team of geologists and seismologists has constructed a freshly improved map of Zealandia, or Te Riu-a-Maui. The researchers discovered it by analysing data from dredging rock samples retrieved from the ocean floor. The findings of the study were published in the journal Tectonics.

According to the BBC, Zealandia is a massive continent 1.89 million square miles (4.9 million square kilometres) in size, over six times the size of Madagascar. The scientists revealed that there are, in reality eight continents, with the most recent addition breaking all records as the world's tiniest, thinnest, and youngest. Surprise! Eighth Continent of 'Zealandia' Revealed in New Maps; Here's How You Can Virtually Explore it.

The new continent is 94% underwater, with only a few islands, akin to New Zealand, according to Andy Tulloch, a geologist from the New Zealand Crown Research Institute GNS Science who was part of the team that founded Zealandia. This is an example of how something very obvious can take a long time to uncover, he added.

Zealandia, according to scientists, has always been tough to research. Scientists are currently investigating collections of rocks and sediment samples recovered from the ocean floor, the majority of which came from drilling sites--others came from the coasts of nearby islands. Octopath Traveler: Champions Of The Continent is Better Than the Nintendo Switch Original. 

According to Phys.org, the investigation of the rock samples revealed geologic patterns in West Antarctica that suggested the presence of a subduction zone near the Campbell Plateau off the west coast of New Zealand. However, the researchers found no magnetic anomalies in that location, which contradicts predictions of a strike-slip in the Campbell Fault. The newly revised map depicts not just the position of the Zealandia continent's magmatic arc axis but also other key geological features.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 27, 2023 05:24 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).