Exciting news from the geological world: a fiery plume of molten rock deep beneath eastern Africa is causing the continent to slowly drift apart, hinting at the emergence of a brand new ocean!

Led by Emma Watts from Swansea University, a groundbreaking study unveils that the Afar region of Ethiopia is sitting atop a dynamic mantle plume that surges and recedes in rhythmic patterns—resembling the beating of a heart. These movements influence the shifting tectonic plates above, playing a crucial role in the gradual rifting of Africa.

Watts explains, "Our research shows that the mantle beneath Afar is not only variable but also active, with these pulses revealing unique chemical signatures. This finding alters our understanding of how Earth's interior interacts with its surface."

The Afar Triangle, located in northeastern Ethiopia, is a rare geological hotspot where three tectonic rift systems—the Red Sea Rift, the Gulf of Aden Rift, and the Main Ethiopian Rift—converge. Over millions of years, as these tectonic plates are gradually pulled apart, the crust undergoes significant stretching and thinning, paving the way for the development of a new ocean basin.

To trace the happenings beneath the surface, the team collected over 100 volcanic rock samples throughout Afar and the Main Ethiopian Rift. They combined this extensive fieldwork with existing geophysical data and sophisticated statistical modeling to decipher the crust's structure and the underlying mantle.

Their findings reveal a single, asymmetric mantle plume beneath the region, characterized by repeating chemical patterns, nicknamed "geological barcodes." Tom Gernon, co-author from the University of Southampton, elaborated, "The chemical striping indicates that the mantle plume is indeed pulsing. In regions where the tectonic plates are thinner or facing more rapid divergence, like at the Red Sea Rift, these pulses travel more efficiently—much like blood flowing through a narrow artery."

Derek Keir, another co-author, emphasizes the implications of their research: "The evolution of these mantle upwellings is intricately connected to the movement of the tectonic plates above it. This insight revolutionizes our understanding of volcanic activity, earthquake occurrences, and continental breakup processes."

Stay tuned as scientists continue to unravel this thrilling chapter in Earth's geological story, where the formation of a new ocean may be just a heartbeat away!