The Eye of the Sahara resembles a massive impact crater in the middle of Mauritania's Sahara Desert when seen from above. This crater-like anomaly is entirely terrestrial and has a diameter of 50 kilometers (30 miles). It is made up of a series of uniform ripples. In the 1960s, Gemini astronauts used this stunning ancient geological formation as a landmark. The Eye of the Sahara, also known as the Richat Structure, was initially thought to be a massive impact crater by geologists.
However, further examination of the sedimentary rock that forms the central dome has established a period of 1 billion to 542 million years for the formation. It's important to note that the structure's circular shape is said to be similar to the land that Plato described, so some people still think it's the remains of the lost city of Atlantis. However, we won't talk about that here.
A process known as "folding" may have formed the structure, resulting in a symmetrical anticline. Folding occurs when sedimentary rock is squeezed by tectonic forces acting from either side. If the rock is cold and brittle, it can fracture, but if it is warm enough, it will fold. Anticlines are folds that form upwards, while synclines form downwards.
Alleged Lost Atlantis
Furthermore, researchers proposed a completely different formation explanation for the Eye in a 2014 paper published in the Journal of African Earth Sciences. It is thought that the presence of volcanic rock indicates that molten rock was pushed to the surface, creating the dome shape, and then eroded into the rings we see today. The paper suggested that these volcanic formations and tectonic shifts may have been caused by the separation of the supercontinent Pangaea.
A combination of igneous and sedimentary rock makes up the structure. Hydrothermally altered fine-grained rhyolite and coarse crystalline gabbro rocks are revealed by erosion across the structure's surface. The various types of rock found in the rings erode at varying rates, resulting in distinct color patterns on the surface. The formation's swirling, colorful irregularities are further enhanced by large, sharp-angled megabreccia, sedimentary rock fragments, as per Revelry's report.
The dome's centre comprises a limestone-dolomite shelf, ring dikes, alkaline volcanic rock, and a kilometer-wide breccia. Since its discovery, the Eye's intricate geological structure has perplexed and intrigued geologists, and it is still widely regarded as one of the world's most impressive geological features. As a result, the International Union of Geological Science (IUGS) designated it as one of the first 100 geological heritage sites in 2022.
Formed Before Pangea
Because of its enormous size, the Eye of the Sahara is best appreciated from great distances-preferably from space-so for the time being; satellite images will have to suffice. The entire terrain surrounding the Eye was raised by volcanic activity from deep below the surface of the Earth millions of years ago. These areas weren't like the deserts of today. Instead, they probably had much flowing water and were much cooler.
During the temperate period, blowing winds deposited layered sandstone rocks on the bottoms of lakes and rivers. The overlying layers of sandstone and other rocks were eventually pushed upward by the subsurface volcanic flow. Wind and water erosion began to eat away at the domed layers of rock after the volcanism subsided. The roughly circular "eye" feature was created when the region began settling down and collapsing.
Researchers have learned much about the Eye of the Sahara's history from the ancient rocks there. When the supercontinent Pangaea started to separate, the Eye formed first. The waters of the Atlantic Ocean began to enter the region as Pangaea broke up. A rocky dome in the shape of a circle surrounded by layers of sandstone was formed by magma rising from the Earth's mantle as Pangaea slowly broke apart.
Future Status
The Richat Structure's sunken circular shape was created by circular ridges left behind by erosion of the igneous rocks and sandstones as the dome collapsed. Today, the eye is somewhat submerged below the level of the surrounding landscapes.
Tourists and geologists flock to the Eye of the Sahara to study distinctive geological features. However, humans pose little threat to the eye due to the lack of water or rainfall in this sparsely populated desert region, according to Geology Science.
This opens the door to natural nuances. The landscape is under threat everywhere due to erosion's ongoing effects. Desertification in the region is caused by desert winds, particularly climate change, which can bring more dunes to the region. Sand and dust fill the Sahara's eye in the far future. One of the world's most striking geological features is buried beneath a windy desert for future travellers.
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