Amber in Antarctica proves it had trees in ancient times
German researchers found amber in Antarctica for the first time, proving it had trees 90 million years ago.
In 2017, the Alfred Wegener Institute scientists found it from a depth of 946 meters using the MARUM-MeBo70 seafloor drill.
READ: Antarctica is growing more flowers, and that’s bad news
Article continues after this advertisementThe amber was in the Pine Island Bay of the Amundsen Sea Embayment, so the researchers named it the “Pine Island Amber.”
Amber reveals Antarctica’s verdant past
First-Ever Amber Found in Antarctica Unlocks Secrets of Cretaceous Rainforest https://t.co/NTlG0KEXJe
— Gizmodo (@Gizmodo) November 16, 2024
The scientists found amber on six of Earth’s seven continents before the Antarctic discovery. It’s the first amber found at this extreme latitude, confirming that the region once supported resin-producing trees.
Resin is a thick liquid that oozes from trees. Eventually, it solidifies after an extended period into a yellow crystal called amber.
Article continues after this advertisement“It was very exciting to realize that, at some point in their history,” said Dr. Johann P. Klages from the AWI.
“All seven continents had climatic conditions allowing resin-producing trees to survive.”
The sample measures 70mm across, so the research team had to dry the material before handling it. Next, the group cut it into 1mm-thick slices to perform several lab experiments.
Dr. Henny Gerschel, a consultant at the Saxon State Office for the Environment, Agriculture, and Geology, said the tests revealed new details regarding the amber:
“The Antarctic amber likely contains remains of original tree bark as micro-inclusions. [Also,] the amber is of high quality, indicating its burial near the surface.”
The AWI website says the team will test the sample further. Success should reveal even more clues about the ancient Antarctic environment that supported resin-producing trees.
“Our discovery is another piece of the puzzle and will help us gain a better understanding of the swampy, conifer-rich, temperate rainforest environment identified near the South Pole during the mid-Cretaceous,” said Gerschel.
The team hopes to find even more samples to complete the picture of this ancient forest ecosystem.
