Summary:
- Researchers have discovered that giant, continent-sized blobs of rock deep within Earth's mantle are over 1 billion years old, making them some of the oldest features on our planet.
- These blobs, known as large low-shear-velocity provinces (LLSVPs), are located at the boundary between Earth's core and mantle and are thought to play a role in shaping the movement of tectonic plates and the generation of Earth's magnetic field.
- The study, which analyzed ancient crystals found in volcanic rocks, provides new insights into the long-term evolution and structure of Earth's interior, shedding light on the processes that have shaped our planet over billions of years.