Deep beneath Zambia, scientists may have uncovered signs that Africa is slowly tearing apart. Clues rising from bubbling geothermal springs suggest that molten material from Earth’s mantle is pushing upward through a hidden fracture in the crust, a process that could mark the birth of a new continental rift.The discovery comes from an analysis of gases released by hot springs in Zambia’s Kafue Rift.
Researchers detected unusually high levels of mantle-derived helium isotopes, a chemical fingerprint that points to a direct connection between the surface and Earth’s deep interior. Over millions of years, rifts like this can grow into tectonic plate boundaries capable of reshaping continents and even creating new oceans.
At the same time, the geological activity could bring more immediate benefits. Rift systems are often linked to geothermal energy resources and underground reserves of gases such as helium and hydrogen, both of which are increasingly valuable for modern technology and energy systems.
Source: SciTechDaily