A team of researchers from the University of Adelaide recently made a fascinating discovery about the pink sand found on beaches in South Australia. Through their study, published in the journal Communications Earth and Environment, they were able to determine that the pink sand comes from powdered garnet. However, tracing the origin of the garnet was not a straightforward task due to its rarity and unique geological conditions required for its formation.
In their research, the team used laser dating techniques to analyze garnets found on South Australian beaches. They found that these garnets came from sources thousands of kilometers away, including the Adelaide folding zone dating back 514-490 million years and the Gawler Craton region formed 3.3-1.4 billion years ago. These findings provide valuable insights into Earth’s geological history and reveal how garnets were transported over vast distances through natural processes such as ice movement and erosion.
Furthermore, Dr. Stijn Glorie explained that garnets may have been eroded from Antarctic mountain belts and transported northwest towards the Antarctic-Australian edge through ice movement over millions of years. This research sheds light on the geological history and movement of garnets in the region, providing valuable insights into South Australia’s ancient past and its connection to Antarctica.
Overall, this discovery by researchers at the University of Adelaide provides a fascinating glimpse into Earth’s geological past and reveals how natural processes shape our planet’s environment today.
