Ancient rocks reveal Earth was not a solid ice ball during its coldest phase
Geological evidence from 635 million years ago suggests that habitable patches of open water persisted during the Marinoan ice age, challenging the long-held theory that Earth was once completely frozen.
Sedimentary rocks found in China indicate that ice-free conditions existed much further north than previously thought during the planet’s most extreme freeze. These ancient deposits contain chemical signatures of algae, which require sunlight and open water to survive. This suggests that the Marinoan ice age featured habitable maritime oases rather than a solid, impenetrable shell of ice.
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