Nestled within the ancient mountains of Northern Europe, in a Finnish outcrop, researchers have recently unearthed remnants of crust dating back over 3 billion years, proving that Scandinavia broke away from Greenland as a “seed” and shifted for hundreds of millions of years until it “took root” where Finland is today.
These discoveries, found within zircon minerals and confirmed through chemical and independent isotope analysis, suggest that the geologic foundation of Denmark and Scandinavia likely stemmed from Greenland, approximately 3.75 billion years ago.
At the forefront of this paradigm-shifting research stands the Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management in Copenhagen, whose efforts culminated with a publication in the Geology Journal. According to professor and geologist Tod Waight, their findings paint a vivid picture of an ancient connection between Greenland and Scandinavia, pushing back the age of the latter by a staggering 250 million years.
“The zircon crystals we found in river sand and rocks from Finland have signatures that point towards them being much older than anything ever found in Scandinavia, while matching the age of Greenlandic rock samples. At the same time, the results of three independent isotope analyses confirm that Scandinavia’s bedrock was most likely linked to Greenland”, said Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management researcher Andreas Petersson.
To conduct their analysis, the researchers examined zircon extracted from modern river sand and rock samples from the remote regions of Pudasjärvi and Suomujärvi in Finland, areas with limited geological investigation. The crystals found in this Finnish outcrop are believed to have formed from granitic magmas. Also, by scrutinizing the isotopic compositions of lead, hafnium, and oxygen, the researchers traced the chemical signatures back to their source in Greenland, unravelling a saga of continental drift and shared evolutionary history.
This exploration of Earth’s origins, reaching back to the very birthplace of its crust, carries significant implications for our comprehension of continental evolution and its impact on the genesis and maintenance of life. Reflecting on the depth of these findings, the researchers highlight the pivotal role continents hold in shaping our planet, from steering ocean currents to shaping the climates essential for sustaining life.
