Scientists have uncovered evidence of ancient magma pathways hidden beneath the Ontong Java Plateau, the world's largest oceanic plateau, revealing how massive volcanic activity reshaped Earth's lithosphere more than 100 million years ago.
A study published in Advancing Earth and Space Sciences titled “Dike Swarms in the Oceanic Lithosphere Beneath the Ontong Java Plateau” found that underground structures created during the plateau's formation have remained preserved over geological time. By analysing high-frequency seismic waves, researchers identified signs of ancient magma-filled fractures, known as dike swarms, deep beneath the Pacific Ocean.
