Fossils to unravel secrets of ancient seabed buried beneath outback
For millions of years, an ancient coral reef has been buried underneath the Australian outback. New fossil discoveries could unravel its mysteries.
Scientists are studying fossils discovered deep beneath the outback of Queensland to learn more about the ancient seabed that lies hidden beneath the surface. The fossils, which include corals, trilobites, and ammonites, provide insight into the Devonian era, a time when the world was warmer, sea levels were higher, and the reef teemed with marine life.
The specimens were found by geologists from Geoscience Australia after drilling a 3-kilometre-deep hole in western Queensland to collect rock and groundwater samples from the ancient Adavale Basin. The discovery of the fossils was not what geologists were looking for, as they were searching for a salt layer known as the Boree Salt deposit, which could potentially be used to create an underground hydrogen battery.
However, the deposit was not found in its original form, but instead, fossilised corals, sea sponges, ammonites, and trilobites were discovered. These findings offer a glimpse into a once-rich reef ecosystem buried beneath Australia for millions of years. Geologists are particularly interested in the potential for larger prehistoric fish and animals, as they believe the fossils may indicate a rise in ocean oxygen levels.
Written by urgent.news from ABC News AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
