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Caves beneath sinkhole reveal origin of mystery trenches that score Australian Plain
Yahoo • • science
Key Points:
- Researchers have discovered that mysterious trenches stretching miles across Australia's Nullarbor Plain are surface scars from the collapse of huge ancient underground caves formed millions of years ago.
- The trenches, which can be up to 12 miles long and 500 meters wide, were found to be shallow depressions above deep canyons filled with sediment, linked to karst limestone caves formed by groundwater flow during the Oligocene and Early Miocene epochs.
- Using electrical resistivity tomography and terrain modeling, the team confirmed that progressive cave roof collapses caused the trenches, with some caves still intact beneath the surface, indicating ongoing geological activity.
- This discovery helps locate previously unknown large caves and may provide insights into similar formations on Earth and other planetary bodies, such as Mars, where comparable surface depressions have been observed.
- Experts note that similar collapsed cave networks exist in other deserts like the Arabian Peninsula, and understanding these features could enhance the study of habitable environments beyond Earth.
