Mysterious Pink Sand Deposits in Australia Reveal Existence of Previously Unknown Ancient Mountains

Australian researchers have discovered that pink garnet sand on South Australian beaches originates from ancient Antarctic mountains, redefining the known geological history and the formation timeline of the Pacific Ocean.

Deep-pink sand deposits found on the shores of South Australia have provided new insights into the timing of the subduction of the Australian tectonic plate beneath the Pacific plate and have revealed the existence of previously unknown ancient mountains in Antarctica.

The pink sand is composed of a mineral called garnet, and a University of Adelaide research team, led by PhD candidate Sharmaine Verhaert and Associate Professor Stijn Glorie, used a new, cutting-edge method to show the garnet grains are around 590 million years old.