For the first time, a team of geologists has observed a "ghost" plume of hot rock rising from deep within the Earth beneath the Sultanate of Oman, without any accompanying volcanic activity on the surface.
This rising column, scientifically known as the "mantle plume," is believed to extend from a depth of more than 600 km and rise to the Earth's crust, carrying with it tremendous heat without causing any apparent volcanic eruption, a rare geological phenomenon that could change our understanding of the structure of planet Earth.
The research team explained that the discovered plume, which they named "Dani's plume," represents some of the first evidence of the existence of such hidden thermal plumes, which are invisible on the surface but affect the Earth's crust from below.
The discovery was based on seismic data showing slower waves in the region, a sign of hotter, less dense rocks. Computer models and geophysical analyses also supported this hypothesis, indicating disturbances at depths of 410 and 660 kilometers, which are joint zones separating the Earth's interior layers (important geological boundary layers).
According to the study, the plume's diameter ranges between 200 and 300 km, and its temperature reaches 100 to 300 degrees Celsius higher than that of the surrounding rocks in the mantle. It is likely that this plume has been active for a very long time, perhaps contributing to the movement of the Indian Plate about 40 million years ago.
Despite the absence of any volcanic manifestations on the surface, scientists confirm that the influence of this plume persists, particularly in shaping some of Oman's current topographic features. They point out that the accumulation of diverse evidence, from earthquakes to thermal models, strongly supports the existence of this hidden structure.
Scientists believe this discovery paves the way for the detection of similar plumes in other regions of the world, which may require reconsidering traditional models for understanding Earth's dynamics, particularly regarding the transfer of heat from the Earth's core to its mantle.
The study was published in the journal Earth and Planetary Science Letters.
