Of iron secrets, continental collisions and diamond volcanoes: The title topic of the April edition of image of science is devoted to the inner structure of the earth and the geodynamics that shape our planet in a multiple way.
What is hidden in the depths of the earth, why are there mountains and what is it with quake or volcanism? For a long time, religious-mystical ideas shaped the image of man from the characteristics and the behavior of our planet. What is really deep under our feet and runs has only continued to reveal geological research. It became clear that the earth has it all and its mysterious depths continue to give us new puzzles.
In the first article of the three-part title of title, BDW author Thorsten Dambeck initially reports on the history of researching the interior. An earthquake in New Zealand in 1929 led to a crucial breakthrough: the seismic data showed that there is a solid iron core in the center of the earth. Dambeck explains why this structure is responsible for the characteristics of the earthly magnetic field in connection with the liquid iron layer above. He also reports on recent research results that have shown when the solid earth core was formed and that this even indirectly influenced the development of life on our planet. However, the mysterious metal ball in the middle of our planet remains mysterious. The earth’s core and the dynamics in depth will continue to deal with geological research, emerges from the article “The Iron Core of the Earth”.
Turbulence and diamond volcanoes
Dambeck then focuses on a special form of volcanism. Diamonds were once encouraged to the surface in so-called Kimberlit material from the depth of the earth’s mantle. Among other things, the particularly productive “treasure of the treasure camps” were created in South Africa. The author reports what the research of recent years has found out about the creation of this geological phenomenon. Kimberlit-volcanism was therefore fueled by a special mechanism when breaking tectonic plates. The research of this geological topic can also be literally worthwhile: Results could help to track down undiscovered Kimberlit deposits-together with the gemstones it contains, the author writes in the article “Volcanic spitting diamonds”.
In the third partial article, Dambeck reports on the interesting history of the origin of prominent landscape structures in today’s South Africa. The unusual formations are therefore part of a so -called large marginal level, which arose when the Megakontinen Gondwana was breaking apart 120 million years ago. The geological structures were pressed up by a special lift process and erosion also played an important role. Modeling also shows how the characteristic flat plateau of this region has formed, reports the author in the article “Gondwanas Erbe”.
You can read the articles of the title theme “The Power of the Earth Interior” online as part of a BDW+ subscription, or you will find it in the April edition of Image of Science, which is available in stores from March 21st.