New Study Reveals How India Broke Away From Antarctica Millions Of Years Ago

Last Updated:May 17, 2026, 11:42 IST

The scientists found that rocks from Andhra Pradesh and East Antarctica shared the same age, mineral composition, and chemical signatures

Scientists have uncovered fresh evidence showing that India and Antarctica were once physically connected through a massive ancient mountain chain before the continents drifted apart millions of years ago.

A new study on ancient rocks from the Vizianagaram Salur region of Andhra Pradesh has revealed strong similarities with rocks found in East Antarctica. Researchers say the findings confirm that eastern India and Antarctica once formed a single geological system known as the Rayner Eastern Ghats orogen.

The research was conducted by scientists from India, Australia, and South Korea. They studied granulites, a type of metamorphic rock formed deep inside the Earth under intense heat and pressure. These rocks preserve clues about events that took place billions of years ago.

Ancient Minerals Preserved The Story

Prof Sankar Bose, dean of the faculty of natural and mathematical sciences at Presidency University, Kolkata, said the team analysed minerals including zircon, garnet, and monazite using advanced mineral testing techniques.

“Notably, zircon is renowned for its durability under extreme heat and pressure, which can obliterate other minerals. Due to this robust nature, zircon acts as a tiny time capsule within these rocks. The decay of radioactive elements like uranium and lead within zircon crystals enabled us to construct a detailed timeline, pinpointing events that unfolded hundreds of millions to billions of years ago in the Eastern Ghats province," said the geology faculty, as cited by the Times Of India.

The scientists found that rocks from Andhra Pradesh and East Antarctica shared the same age, mineral composition, and chemical signatures. Both regions also showed evidence of the same three major geological stages.

Rocks Recorded The Same Geological Events

“The rocks from Vizianagaram and Salur recorded the same three major stages of geological history that have already been identified in East Antarctica," said Prof Bose.

According to the study, the first stage occurred around 1,000 to 990 million years ago, when the rocks were exposed to temperatures close to 1,000 degrees Celsius during a major continental collision that formed a giant mountain range.

The second stage, between 950 and 890 million years ago, involved further heating and structural changes inside the rocks. The final phase took place between 570 and 540 million years ago, when mineral rich fluids moved through cracks in the rocks, leaving behind a distinct chemical signature seen in both India and Antarctica.

Gondwana Breakup Separated India And Antarctica

Scientists believe the two landmasses remained connected until the supercontinent Gondwana started breaking apart around 130 to 150 million years ago.

As the Indian plate drifted north towards Asia and Antarctica moved southwards, the once connected mountain belt split apart. Today, the regions are separated by thousands of kilometres of ocean, but the rocks still preserve evidence of their shared geological past.

News world New Study Reveals How India Broke Away From Antarctica Millions Of Years Ago

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