Scientists Uncover a Mysterious “Yellow Brick Road” Deep Under the Pacific

A team of deep-sea explorers has uncovered an astonishing geological formation beneath the Pacific Ocean, resembling a “yellow brick road” stretching across the seafloor. This remarkable find was made by researchers aboard the E/V Nautilus, a vessel operated by the Ocean Exploration Trust, while surveying the Liliʻuokalani Ridge in the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument (PMNM).

The discovery, which was part of a broader seafloor mapping and geological analysis mission, was documented in a study published as part of the 2022 Ocean Exploration Trust field season report in Oceanography (34:1, 2022). At a depth of nearly 3,000 meters, the team stumbled upon a dried-out ancient lake, where volcanic rock formations had fractured into near-perfect rectangular shapes, creating the illusion of a man-made road.

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The sight left the researcher stunned, prompting excited radio chatter, with one team member exclaiming, “It’s the road to Atlantis”. However, as geologists analyzed the formation, they determined that these brick-like patterns were not the work of an ancient civilization but rather the result of natural volcanic processes.

The Geological Mystery Behind the “Yellow Brick Road”

At first glance, the seafloor formation bears an uncanny resemblance to an artificially constructed road, with its straight edges and uniform fractures. However, a closer geological analysis revealed that this striking pattern resulted from multiple volcanic eruptions over millions of years. The volcanic rock, likely hyaloclastite, was formed when lava rapidly cooled upon contact with water, causing it to shatter into fragments.

Over time, this lava rock was subjected to extreme heating and cooling cycles, leading to thermal stress fractures that broke the surface into rectangular blocks. This process, known as columnar jointing, is the same phenomenon responsible for creating otherworldly landscapes like the Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland and Devils Postpile in California.

According to the researchers, the formation’s 90-degree fractures were a direct result of repeated heating and cooling from subsequent lava flows, leading to the characteristic brick-like patterns seen on the ocean floor.

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This discovery provides further evidence of how seafloor geology evolves over time and highlights the dynamic processes shaping Earth’s crust beneath the ocean.

Exploring the Deep

The E/V Nautilus expedition that led to this discovery was part of an ongoing effort to map and explore uncharted regions of the Pacific Ocean. The Liliʻuokalani Ridge, the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, is one of the least-explored deep-sea regions on Earth.

PMNM is one of the largest marine conservation areas in the world, covering an area of 582,578 square miles, larger than all U.S. national parks combined. Despite its size, less than 3% of its seafloor has been mapped, making the discoveries of the yellow brick road a reminder of how much remains unknown about the deep ocean’s geology and ecosystems.

The 2022 Nautilus expedition, led by scientists including Christopher Kelley and Emil Petruncio, focused on seafloor mapping and the study of ancient underwater volcanoes. Using advanced sonar and remote-operated vehicles, researchers have been uncovering hidden geological structures, shedding light on how volcanic island chains and ridges form over millions of years.

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Why This Discovery Matters

Beyond its visually stunning appearance, the discovery of the “yellow brick road” formation carries significant scientific importance. The unique seafloor patterns provide a natural laboratory for studying volcanic activity and tectonic processes in the deep ocean.

One of the key takeaways from this find is the role of hyaloclastite deposits in shaping the submarine landscape. These deposits trap gases and heat, influencing deep-sea hydrothermal systems and potentially impacting marine ecosystems that depend on mineral-rich vents.

Additionally, understanding how lava cools and fractures underwater could provide clues about the formation of other deep-sea features, including underwater ridges, volcanic arcs, and even oceanic crust formation.