REUTERS/NASA/Handout/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Nov 1 (Reuters) - Seismologists have recognized since the 1970s that two mysterious continent-sized blobs reside in the deepest part of Earth's mantle, one under Africa and the other under the South Pacific region.
Based on these simulations, they proposed that most of Theia was absorbed into Earth, forming the blobs, while residual debris formed the moon.
If the study's conclusions are correct, these blobs would represent the first direct evidence of the hypothesized moon-forming collision.
"It is incredible because we can uncover relics of another planet - Theia - if we dig deep enough in Earth's mantle," added planetary scientist and study co-author Hongping Deng of the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Shanghai Astronomical Observatory.
Asimow said that if their conclusions are correct some volcanic rocks that reach Earth's surface may provide samples of a vanished planet.
Persons:
Qian Yuan, Paul Asimow, Hongping Deng, Yuan, Asimow, Will Dunham, Rosalba O'Brien
Organizations:
NASA, REUTERS, Rights, Caltech, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Thomson
Locations:
Africa, South Pacific, Theia, Shanghai