Study Reveals Greece’s Ancient Connection to South America
A groundbreaking geological study reveals that part of present-day Greece may have been physically connected to what is now South America hundreds of millions of years ago. The research, focused on ancient rock formations in the Pelagonian zone of northern and central Greece, shows remarkable chemical and age similarities with crust from the Amazon region. This discovery could reshape our understanding of continental shifts and tectonic evolution.
Connection Between Greece and Amazon Region
Conducted by lead researcher Olga Zlatkin, a geologist at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and her team, the study analyzed zircon crystals found in Greek rocks dating back nearly 700 million years. These minute minerals carry chemical signatures that reveal a surprising connection. The research, published in the journal Lithos, indicates that the Greek rock samples contain isotopic features closely matching those found in the Amazonian part of South America.
Origins of Ancient Crust in Pelagonian Region
Zlatkin highlighted that the composition and age distribution of the zircons differ from known African or European origins. Instead, they align with materials from western Gondwana—an ancient supercontinent that once included what are now South America, parts of Africa, Antarctica, and other modern landmasses. This suggests that the crust forming part of today’s Greece might have been positioned near or included in the landmass that would eventually become South America.
Geological History of the Pelagonian Zone
The rocks examined come from the Pelagonian zone, a significant geological stretch traversing mainland Greece into the Aegean. Previous studies posited that these rocks were Paleozoic and linked to northern Africa. However, Zlatkin’s team determined the surrounding granite intrusions date back to about 700 million years ago, proving that the metasedimentary rocks they pass through are even older.
Southeast Europe’s Ancient Terranes
The research explains that zircon grains in these sediments exhibit age peaks between 1.0 and 1.5 billion years, consistent with sedimentary sources in the Amazon region rather than African or Avalonian terranes, which define much of the Eastern Mediterranean’s geology. The area also experienced a major geological event around 300 million years ago, known as the Variscan orogeny. Despite this, the older zircon signals were preserved, maintaining the crust’s original source.
Expansion of Geological Knowledge
Zlatkin emphasized that the discovery classifies these Pelagonian rocks as some of the oldest known in Greece and among the few in southeastern Europe with a clear Amazonian signature. This deep crustal connection elucidates how fragments of ancient continents drifted and reassembled globally due to plate tectonics. The findings provide new insight into Earth’s ancient history and clarify how distant continental parts fragmented and reconfigured over time.
