175-Million-Year-Old "Pink Granite" Emerges Beneath Antarctic Ice, Stuns Scientists

• Scientists discovered a massive 175-million-year-old "pink granite" structure hidden under West Antarctica, approximately 100 km wide and 7 km thick.
• The discovery began with perplexing pink granite boulders found near the Hudson Mountains, which were geologically inconsistent with the area's volcanic rocks.
• British Antarctic Survey (BAS) researchers, led by Dr. Joanne Johnson, used satellite imagery, airborne surveys, and field visits to locate the buried granite.
• Studies revealed the granite formed during the Jurassic period and its erosion-resistant nature allowed it to be preserved and transported by glaciers.
• This hidden granite influenced Antarctica's geological development, guiding glacier flows, shaping mountains, and affecting the landscape over millions of years.