Prehistoric supercontinent Gondwana was larger than previously thought, study suggests

The short version

• Researchers analyzing over 25,000 volcanic rocks found Gondwana made up approximately 80 percent of global land 500 million years ago, up from earlier estimates of 64 percent.[Scientific American]
• Crust segments originally belonging to the supercontinent were detected beneath North America, Europe, and Asia.[Scientific American]
• The authors suggest the continent's scale may have influenced planetary conditions linked to the Cambrian explosion.[Scientific American]
• Scientists note additional submerged or recycled crust sections could mean the new estimate remains an underestimate.[Scientific American]

Key facts

• A new study calculated that Gondwana encompassed about 80 percent of Earth's land area 500 million years ago, compared with previous estimates of 64 percent.[Scientific American]
• The findings were based on geochemical analyses of more than 25,000 volcanic rocks.[Scientific American]
• Fragments of ancient continental crust tied to Gondwana were detected deep under Asia, Europe, and North America.[Scientific American]
• Researchers proposed that Gondwana's massive size may have played a key role in the Cambrian explosion of life.[Scientific American]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.

• New maps reveal hidden landscapes inside a prehistoric supercontinentScientific American metered