BBC News Online: Sci/Tech

'Lost continent' discovered

Scientists have discovered the remains of a "lost continent" beneath the waves of the Indian Ocean.

Drilling by the Joides Resolution research vessel, which traverses the seas extracting samples from beneath the sea floor, suggests that the continent, about a third the size of present day Australia, sank from sight only 20 million years ago.

It lies beneath the southern Indian Ocean. Called the Kerguelen Plateau, it is one of the most remote places on Earth.

The Joides Resolution, the world's largest research vessel, bored a series of holes through the undersea plateau, which is about two kilometres below the ocean surface.

Spores and pollen

It brought to the surface many types of rocks associated with explosive volcanism, as well as sedimentary rocks similar to those found in India and Australia.

"We found abundant evidence that much of the Kerguelen Plateau formed above sea level," said Dr Mike Coffin of the University of Texas.

"Wood fragments, a seed, spores and pollen recovered in 90 million year-old sediment from the central Kerguelen Plateau indicates that it was above sea level."

Scientists believe that it rose out of the ocean about 110 million years ago, following a series of huge volcanic eruptions.

Small dinosaurs

Fifty million years ago, it may have been covered in lush ferns, moist with tropical humidity.

Small dinosaurs would have hidden in the undergrowth stalking their prey.

Twenty million years ago, it started to sink beneath the waves of what is now the Indian Ocean.

Scientists hope that studying the region will help them understand the break-up of Australia, India and Antarctica.

Relevant Stories

Early volcano victims discovered (03 May 99 | Sci/Tech)
Dinosaur 'lost world' discovered (17 Nov 98 | Sci/Tech)
Living inside a volcano - analysed in space (21 Sep 98 | Sci/Tech)
Dinosaurs leave their mark (06 Aug 98 | Sci/Tech)

Internet Links

Ocean Drilling Program
Kerguelen Plateau Drilling
The Kerguelen Islands

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