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The " lost continent " of Zealandia , which includes New Zealand and the French islands of New Caledonia , have been map out in full in a world first , providing scientist with a fresh understanding of how it formed tens of one thousand thousand of years ago .
Zealandia , bed as Te Riu - a - Māui in the Māori language , wasfirst recognized as a continent in 2017and is now the first to have its tilt composition , volcanic action and sedimentary features to the full map out at its margin .
Zealandia is the first continent on Earth to be fully mapped to the edges.
This is despite the continent being almost completely subaquatic , with only about 5 % of Zealandia peek above sea level . Researchers published their findings Sept. 12 in the journalTectonics .
Overall , the area of Zealandia is gauge to be 1.9 million square geographical mile ( 4.9 million solid kilometers ) . In 2019 , scientists map thegeology of a region of south Zealandiaspanning 0.6 million square mile ( 1.5 million square km ) . These findings revealed that Zealandia stretched , misrepresented and melt off as it broke off from the supercontinentGondwanabetween 60 million and 100 million years ago .
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In the latest subject area , researchers map out the underwater region of north Zealandia , located between New Zealand , New Caledonia and Australia .
The scientists notice that the interval of Zealandia from Gondwana was part driven by a giant volcanic neighborhood comprise magnetized lava rocks , which span the length of the boundary between the two acres masses .
" liquified magma flooded out of crack and chap as the continent stretched and thin like pizza dough,“Nick Mortimer , a geologist at the Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences Limited ( GNS Science ) , pronounce in astatement . This volcanic activity eventually helped to break Zealandia away from Gondwana .
The geological feature of Zealandia include the granite backbone, which is shown in yellow.
" Until now , the role of magma in Gondwana breakup has been underestimated,“Wanda Stratford , a marine geophysicist at GNS Science , say in the statement . These lava cover an area of 100,000 square mile ( 250,000 substantial km ) across the continent — which is about the size of New Zealand , she added .
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The giant volcanic region that ignited on the edge of the supercontinent of Gondwana and eventually led to the formation of Zealandia.
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By studying rock samples collected from the sea bottom near New Caledonia , the scientists were also able to fully map out a 100 million to 250 million - year - sure-enough backbone of granite that wind through the center of the Zealandia .
The mapping of Zealandia could assist to cast light on New Zealand ’s resourcefulness , surround and natural fortune , GNS Science said in the statement .
