Ancient underwater canyons reveal clues to the world's oldest animal life
Geologists have uncovered new evidence that dramatic sea-level changes carved giant underwater canyons in South Australia's Flinders Ranges hundreds of millions of years ago, helping to create conditions that preserved some of the earliest complex life on Earth. The findings, led by Adelaide University, shed new light on the environmental changes that accompanied the rise of the mysterious…
New research published in Earth and Planetary Science Letters reveals ancient underwater canyons in South Australia's Flinders Ranges that offer clues to the world's oldest animal life. Geologists from Adelaide University, the South Australian Museum, the University of California, and Pomona College studied rock formations in the Flinders Ranges, known for their diverse Ediacaran fossils dating back about 635 to 538.8 million years.
The study found evidence of canyons up to 280 meters deep and over 6 kilometers wide, likely carved by underwater erosion during a significant drop in sea levels. As sea levels later rose, seawater filled the canyons, helping to preserve the unique Ediacara Member fossil deposit. The findings suggest a combination of changing sea levels and local geological processes played a crucial role in shaping the ancient landscape and creating the conditions for the exceptional preservation of soft-bodied organisms.
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