What are the secrets of “sinkites”, these mysterious giants from the bottom of the North Sea?

L’Study of basements and seabed does not stop surprising us! Moreover, Research. Meanwhile, carried out by an English scientist from the University of Manchester and an engineer of a Norwegian oil company, reveal the existence of a Mysterious phenomenon under the North Sea: “Sinkites”kinds ofHuge sandpieces of sand. For example, Where do they come from? In addition, What are their secrets?

Structures several kilometers wide! – What secrets "sinkites", these mysterious

In 2023. Nevertheless, a team of German researchers had already pierced Some mysteries at the bottom of the North Sea : of the Thousands of small holes present on the sea floor had been awarded to a animal behaviorwhile at the start, methane leaks had been suspected. Consequently,

This time, Our Anglo-Norwegian duo was looking for hydrocarbon reserves But also, they assure it, to cavities to inject CO2 Captured in the atmosphere around the factories, in order to fight against global warming. And what they discoveredhidden under the North Sea, they are Hundreds of giant sand mounds.

Measuring up to Several kilometers widethese mounds. baptized “sinkites” by the two men, were spotted thanks to high resolution 3D seismic imaging techniquescombined with the analysis ofsamples from borehole experimental. The word “sinkite” comes from the English “sink”, which means “to flow”, and from the suffix “-ite” designating the rocks.

According to Professor Huuse. one of the two authors of the study, cthe what secrets “sinkites”, these mysterious giant mounds would come from a geological process “unprecedented on this scale”when dense sand structures sink into lighter sediments, creating these immense underwater hills. We talk about“Stratigraphic inversion”.

Seismic training

The stratigraphy Study them sedimentary depositsin the form of strata. layers, to establish a chronology: logically, a layer is supposed to have the same age on all its extent, and The lowest layer of rocks is normally the oldest.

More In case of “stratigraphic inversion”often of tectonic origin, An older layer of sediment can then overlook a younger layer. Already observed on a small scale. this large -scale phenomenon through “sinkites” would be the most massive example of “stratigraphic inversion” documented to date.

Ces “sinkites” what secrets “sinkites”, these mysterious would have formed several million years agobetween the superior Miocene. the Pochene, when earthquakes or sudden variations in pressure in the basement would have caused the “liquefaction” of sand and his depression in natural fractures.

A older sediment layercomposed of tiny sea fossils. would then have been top -powered. Understand the training. secrets of these “sinkites” could allow us to Better assess and identify underground tanks and their sealingfor the carbon storage in complete safety under land and under the sea.

References of the article:

Geo. Where do the “sinkites” come from, these giant and mysterious structures hidden at the bottom of the North Sea?

J.E. Rudjord and M. Huuse, Communications Earth & Environment, 2025. Km-scale mounds and sinkites formed by buoyancy driven stratigraphic inversion.

what secrets “sinkites”, these mysterious