Scientists Find Largest-Ever Inverted Layers Under North Sea

Scientists have discovered that large parts of the Earth are completely overturned, challenging fundamental truths about geology we thought we knew, CE Report quotes Kosova Press.

New research into mysterious formations beneath the North Sea could rewrite our basic understanding of the Earth's crust — all thanks to experts from the University of Manchester.

Massive sand formations have been discovered using 3D sound wave technology. These formations were observed pushing down and displacing older, less dense materials beneath them.

This may not sound like the most groundbreaking discovery, but it fundamentally challenges established geological processes.

The newly observed formations contradict the typical geological order, which usually sees younger rock layers forming on top of older ones.

And these formations are not small — some measure several kilometers in size, and there are hundreds of them. They are the largest of their kind ever observed.
Lead researcher Mads Huuse from the University of Manchester detailed the findings in the journal Communications Earth and Environment.

“This discovery reveals a geological process we haven’t seen before at this scale. What we’ve found are structures where dense sand has sunk into lighter sediments that were floating on top of the sand, effectively flipping the conventional layering we’d expect to see and creating large underwater hills.”

Although only recently discovered, these formations are believed to have formed during the Late Miocene to Pliocene periods.

“This research shows how fluids and sediments can move through the Earth’s crust in unexpected ways. Understanding how these structures form could significantly change how we assess underground reservoirs, sealing processes, and fluid migration — all of which are vital for carbon capture and storage.”

These discoveries could have wide implications for geological studies, especially when it comes to predicting where oil and gas might be trapped underground.

“Time and more research will tell how widely applicable this model is. This discovery reveals a geological process we’ve never seen before at this scale,” said Huuse.