Recent research has confirmed the existence of enormous mountains buried deep beneath the Earth’s surface—structures far taller than Mount Everest. These mountains, located within Earth’s mantle, are around 1,000 kilometers tall, over 100 times higher than Everest’s 8.8 kilometers. Scientists discovered these “hidden mountains” during seismic studies that detected slow seismic waves in certain parts of the mantle, which led to the identification of two massive rock islands, one beneath Africa and the other beneath the Pacific Ocean.
These two geological formations, known as Large Low-Shear-Velocity Provinces (LLSVPs), sit atop Earth’s core in the deep mantle, 2,000 km below the surface. Unlike other areas of the mantle, which consist mostly of semi-solid rock that flows slowly over time, these LLSVPs are unusually rigid and do not partake in mantle convection. Their heat causes seismic waves to slow as they pass through, allowing scientists to map their size and shape.
The two “mountains” are believed to be at least one billion years old, possibly much older. The research suggests they could have formed during the early days of Earth’s history and might even contain primordial elements from the planet’s formation. Their size and unusual composition point to them being remnants from the planet’s original formation, potentially holding clues to Earth’s earliest chemical makeup.
Geologists believe that the LLSVPs are much older than the surrounding rock slabs that have sunk into the mantle due to tectonic plate movements. These slabs are part of the “graveyard” of subducted material, which is slowly drawn into the Earth’s interior as tectonic plates collide. The LLSVPs, however, remain mostly unchanged due to their large mineral grains and slow movement.
Additionally, researchers believe these hidden mountains could be linked to mantle plumes—columns of hot, liquid rock that rise from the mantle and can cause volcanic eruptions on Earth’s surface. The heat and composition of the LLSVPs could be influencing these mantle plumes, which are responsible for some of the planet’s most active volcanic regions.
The discovery challenges previous theories about the mixing and flow of material within the mantle, with new evidence suggesting the mantle is less uniform and mixes more slowly than previously thought. This finding opens up new areas of research into Earth’s internal processes, such as the role of these ancient structures in shaping the planet’s geological activity and how they might contribute to future volcanic events.
These remarkable findings, published in the journal Nature, not only expand our understanding of the Earth’s internal structure but also suggest that the planet’s deepest regions might be far more complex and dynamic than scientists once realized.
