16 Questions
What is the name of the sunken continent beneath the South Pacific?
Zealandia
How was Zealandia mapped by scientists?
By piecing together rock samples with magnetic maps
Who revealed the existence of Zealandia seven years ago?
Nick Mortimer and colleagues
What is the size of Zealandia?
1.9 million square miles
According to geologist James Scott, what is New Zealand actually?
An enormous continent mostly underwater
Who works for the New Zealand research institution GNS Science?
Nick Mortimer
What method did the researchers use to separate the non-magnetic minerals from the granite samples?
Crushing and sieving
What do the zircon crystals contain that helps scientists determine their age?
Uranium
How long ago did the magma in Zealandia granites tend to date to?
100 million years ago
What method did the team use to get a more complete picture of Zealandia's geology?
Magnetic mapping
What is locked within the crystalline structure of the zircon crystals?
A geologic clock
What type of element is uranium found in the zircon crystals?
Radioactive element
What allows some of the bits of granite to float and others to sink during the separation process?
Heavy liquids
What did the researchers dredge up during the expedition to Fairway Ridge?
Granite and sedimentary samples
What is the size of the zircon crystals that the scientists pick out from the remaining material?
One-third of a millimeter long
What analogy does Seton use to explain the information revealed by the samples taken of Zealandia?
Poking holes in a cloth and throwing it over a statue
Test your knowledge about the sunken continent Zealandia, also known as Te Riu-a-Māui, which lies beneath the South Pacific. Learn about the geological research and exploration that led to the mapping of this ancient continental crust.
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