The mountain range existed some 600 million years ago, encouraged an explosion of life on our planet

Oct 17, 2014 20:03 GMT  ·  By

Writing in the journal Nature Communications, researchers with the Australian National University argue that, according to evidence at hand, a positively humongous mountain range need be thanked for an explosion of life that occurred on Earth hundreds of millions of years ago.

The mountain range in question is said to have existed some 600 million years ago. Size-wise, it was comparable to the Himalayas, meaning that it measured about 2,500 kilometers (roughly 1,553 miles) in length.

Earth looked very different in those days

In their paper in the journal Nature Communications, the Australian National University scientists explain that this ancient mountain range spanned over present-day west Africa and northeastern Brazil.

Thus, 600 million years ago, these two patches of land were part and parcel of a more massive continent dubbed Gondwana, the researchers go on to detail.

The mountain range is believed to have come into being following the collision of two continents. Despite the fact that the massive geological formation no longer exists, the roots of the mountains that formed it are still visible.

In fact, it was after analyzing rock samples collected from such roots in Togo, Mali and Brazil that scientists figured out that, 600 million years ago, our planet was home to a fairly impressive mountain range that has since eroded.

“Although the mountains have long since washed away, rocks from their roots told the story of the ancient mountain range’s grandeur,” study co-researcher Professor Joerg Hermann said in a statement.

How mountains can sustain an explosion of life

The Australian National University scientists say that, while eroding, this ancient mountain range spilled the sediments that comprised it into the nearby ocean. These sediments served as food for loads of creatures, and an explosion of life ensued.

Interestingly enough, it appears that researchers have for some time now been aware of the fact that, 600 million years ago, the chemistry of the oceans altered to a considerable extent and that this phenomenon was accompanied by a biodiversity boom.

What's more, it's been previously argued that an eroding mountain range would best explain these changes in the makeup of ancient marine ecosystems. Still, it was the Australian National University specialists who confirmed this hypothesis.

“Just like the Himalayas, this range was eroded intensely because it was so huge. As the sediments washed into the oceans they provided the perfect nutrients for life to flourish,” explained Professor Daniela Rubatto of the Research School of Earth Sciences.

Furthermore, “Scientists have speculated that such a large mountain range must have been feeding the oceans because of the way life thrived and ocean chemistry changed at this time, and finally we have found it.”

To get a better idea of where exactly this mountain range was located and how researchers were able to document its existence using nothing but rock samples, check out the video below.