A mysterious layer of partially molten rock identified beneath the Earth’s crust 

Just like the outer space, the study of Earth itself is no less than fascinating. Recently, a team of researchers identified an unknown layer of partially molten rock 100 miles below the Earth’s crust.  

The detected layer is part of the asthenosphere, a soft layer of solid but malleable rock that is responsible for the movement of Earth’s tectonic plates. According to what has been revealed so far, this brand-new discovery could help scientists study the tectonic movements in much greater details and understand how and why they behave the way they do.  

To put things in perspective, the outermost layer of the Earth is called the crust, the one where we live. Below it is the mantle, followed by the inner core and the outer core. Okay, now what about tectonic plates? They refer to the 15 major blocks beneath the Earth’s lower crust and upper mantle that move and shift and has oceans and continents sitting on them.  

These tectonic movements are also what gives birth to mountains, islands and earthquakes. Besides, they also helped create environments with the suitable chemicals and physical attributes that supported life on the Earth during prehistoric times.  

Okay, now where exactly did the findings happen? Well, that has to be the crust beneath Turkey. After studying the region’s seismic images, the scientists concluded that contrary to earlier beliefs, the asthenosphere comprises of both solid and molten rock deposits. Apart from Turkey, molten rock was also observed in regions where the asthenosphere reached high temperatures and made seismic movements slower. Now, what has made the rocks softer and molten even though the rest of the Earth’s layer is primarily solid still remains a mystery. However, experts believe it is because of alternate transfer of heat. What does that mean? It simply means that instead of the usual hot and less dense materials taking place of cooler and denser materials, the reverse happens. But why? Well, no one knows yet.  

The study was carried out by geologists based at University of Texas, USA and was published in the journal Nature Geoscience. The research had started back in 2020 and concluded only recently.