Scientists have discovered new geological evidence suggesting.
That eastern India and Antarctica were once part of the same ancient landmass before continental drift separated them millions of years ago.
The study, based on rock samples collected from the Vizianagaram-Salur region in Andhra Pradesh, found striking similarities with rocks located in East Antarctica. Researchers say the findings strengthen the theory that the two regions were once connected through a vast mountain-building system known as the Rayner–Eastern Ghats orogen.
The international research team included scientists from India, Australia, and South Korea. Their work focused on granulites — high-grade metamorphic rocks formed deep within Earth’s crust under extreme temperatures and pressure. These rocks preserve crucial evidence about Earth’s ancient geological history.
Ancient Minerals Helped Trace Earth’s History
According to Prof Sankar Bose of Presidency University, the team examined minerals such as zircon, garnet, and monazite using advanced analytical methods.
Zircon crystals proved especially important because they can survive extreme geological processes that destroy many other minerals. Scientists often describe zircon as a natural “time capsule” because radioactive elements trapped inside the crystals help determine the age of rocks with remarkable accuracy.
By analysing uranium-lead decay patterns within zircon, researchers reconstructed a timeline stretching back hundreds of millions to billions of years.
India And Antarctica Shared The Same Geological Events
The researchers discovered that rock samples from Andhra Pradesh and East Antarctica shared identical ages, mineral compositions, and chemical signatures.
Their analysis showed both regions experienced the same three major geological phases:
Around 1,000–990 million years ago, the rocks underwent extreme heating during a major continental collision that created a massive mountain chain. Temperatures are believed to have approached nearly 1,000°C.
Between 950 and 890 million years ago, the rocks experienced additional heating and internal structural changes.
Around 570–540 million years ago, mineral-rich fluids moved through fractures in the rocks, leaving behind matching chemical patterns in both India and Antarctica.
Scientists say these similarities provide strong evidence that the two regions once formed a single connected geological system.
Gondwana’s Breakup Split The Continents Apart
Researchers believe India and Antarctica remained joined until the breakup of the ancient supercontinent Gondwana roughly 130 to 150 million years ago.
As tectonic plates shifted over time, the Indian plate drifted north toward Asia while Antarctica gradually moved southward. The ancient mountain belt connecting the regions was eventually split apart by the formation of new oceans.
Today, the two landmasses lie thousands of kilometres apart, but scientists say the rocks continue to preserve a detailed record of their shared prehistoric past.
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