Deep in the Atlantic Ocean, researchers discovered the Lost City, the oldest known hydrothermal system, which may hold essential clues about life's beginnings on Earth. This extreme environment consists of carbonate towers, formed through serpentinization, and has existed for over 120,000 years. Recent breakthroughs, including core samples from the mantle rock, reveal chemical reactions that produce hydrocarbons without sunlight, fostering unique ecosystems. These findings could illuminate the conditions that facilitated the emergence of the first life forms billions of years ago, all preserved in this untouched underwater world.
The Lost City is made up of towering spires of carbonate rock, formed by a unique geological reaction called serpentinization, where seawater interacts with mantle rock.
Researchers believe that the extreme conditions of the Lost City mirror early Earth, providing clues about how the first life forms might have emerged.
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