In a groundbreaking discovery, scientists have found two enormous “mountains” buried nearly 1,200 miles beneath the Earth’s surface, towering at a staggering 620 miles in height—100 times taller than Mount Everest. These colossal structures, made of hot, dense rock, are known as Large Low Shear Velocity Provinces (LLSVPs). Located at the boundary between Earth’s core and mantle, they have likely been there for over a billion years, quietly reshaping the planet’s inner dynamics.
Surrounding these massive formations lies a tectonic plate “graveyard,” a region rich in geological history and mystery.
These deep-seated structures play a key role in altering earthquake shockwaves, causing the Earth’s internal vibrations to sound strangely “off-key.” This phenomenon is allowing scientists to better map and understand their shape and composition. The discovery adds another fascinating layer to the planet’s deep Earth mysteries, proving once again that our planet’s geology is full of surprises.
Key Points:
- Scientists discovered two massive “mountains” buried 1,200 miles beneath Earth’s surface, standing 620 miles tall—100 times taller than Mount Everest.
- These formations, called Large Low Shear Velocity Provinces (LLSVPs), are made of dense, hot rock and have likely existed for over a billion years.
- The LLSVPs sit at the core-mantle boundary, surrounded by a “graveyard” of tectonic plates.
- These underground structures impact earthquake shockwaves, causing unusual vibrations that help scientists map their shape and structure.
- The discovery reveals more about Earth’s complex and surprising geology.
