Researchers in Utrecht, Netherlands, have made a groundbreaking discovery in northern Borneo, unearthing evidence of a 120-million-year-old tectonic plate that once played a significant role in shaping the Earth’s crust. The findings shed light on the ancient history of our planet, revealing a lost part of the Earth known as the Pontus plate.
Suzanna van de Lagemaat, a graduate geologist at Utrecht University, and her supervisor, Douwe van Hinsbergen, first suspected the existence of the Pontus plate while analyzing geological data from the Asia-Pacific region. Their research led them to identify rock formations in northern Borneo that exhibited clear signs of the long-lost tectonic plate.
Further magnetic lab research conducted by the team confirmed that the rocks discovered in Borneo were remnants of the Pontus plate, a previously unknown piece of Earth’s crust. Estimates suggest that the Pontus plate was approximately a quarter of the size of the Pacific Ocean and played a crucial role in the breakup of the supercontinent Pangaea.
As Pangaea began to separate, the Pontus plate was believed to have been consumed by other tectonic plates, ultimately influencing the positioning of countries like The Philippines and Borneo. Van de Lagemaat’s research focused on the Junction Region, a complex area of tectonic plate activity spanning from Japan to New Zealand, providing valuable insights into the movements and interactions of these ancient plates.
Through her research, Van de Lagemaat was able to reconstruct tectonic plate movements dating back to the time of the dinosaurs, offering a glimpse into the dynamic geological history of our planet. The discovery of the Pontus plate adds to the growing body of knowledge about Earth’s evolution and highlights the ongoing advancements in geological research that continue to uncover hidden secrets of our planet’s past.