An enormousancient islandthat now lies at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean may bear immense reserve of rare worldly concern element and other worthful mineral . love as the Rio Grande Rise ( RGR ) , the submerged continental plateau formed as a volcanic rooftree around 40 million class ago and was once a bombastic tropical landmass covered with vegetation .

Located some 1,200 kilometre ( 745 statute mile ) off the coast of Brazil , the RGR covers around 150,000 square kilometer ( 58,000 square miles ) ofseafloorat depths roll from 700 to 2,000 meters ( 2,300 to 6,560 base ) . The idea that the ridge may once have been an island was first floated in 2018 , and has now been confirmed thanks to a new analysis of stain dredged from the westerly RGR .

Assessing the mineralogical , geochemical , and magnetic properties of the deposit , the report author reveal that the sample is in the main made up of red-faced Lucius Clay that matches the characteristic   “ red earth ” ( terra roxa ) found in many portion of São Paulo state . Within the soil , the investigator detected legion minerals that are typical of volcanic rock music modification , including oxidized magnetite , hematite , goethite , and kaolinite .

Taken together , these findings indicate that the mud had organise as a termination of vivid chemical substance weathering of volcanic rocks in a warm , lactating climate with alive volcanoes . Based on this analysis , the researchers conclude that the RGR was exposed to the elements during the Eocene , which lasted until about 35 million years ago and was characterise by tropical experimental condition .

“ Our enquiry and analysis enabled us to see that it was indeed an island , ” explained study writer Luigi Jovane in astatement . “ Geologically speaking , we discover that the cadaver was formed after the last volcanic body process occurred 45 million yr ago . The formation therefore date from between 30 million and 40 million years ago . And it must have been formed as a result of these tropical conditions , ” he adds .

anterior research has also unveil that thesubmerged islandis rich in worthful minerals such as Co , lithium , and nickel , as well as extremely - prized rarified worldly concern element like tellurium . dedicate that these materials are fundamental component of the newfangled engineering lead the changeover away fromfossil fuels , there is understandably a great deal of interest in extracting the RGR ’s born riches .

“ To roll in the hay whether resources can be viably draw out from the seafloor , we need to analyze the sustainability and impacts of this descent , ” enounce Jovane . “ When you interfere with an area , you have to be intimate how this will affect brute , fungus and coral , and empathize the wallop you ’ll have on the cumulative processes involved , ” he says .

The report is published in the journalScientific Reports .