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According to the British Geological Survey (BGS) and the University of Oslo, scientists have discovered the remains of an ancient supervolcano buried beneath the east coast of England, centering under The Wash and stretching across Norfolk and Lincolnshire. Dating back approximately 454 million years, the massive structure measures between 64 and 65 kilometers in diameter and erupted roughly 200 million years before dinosaurs walked the Earth.
Discovery Rooted in COVID-19 Lockdown Archives
The discovery emerged from a fortunate archival re-examination during pandemic-era restrictions, according to a report by the BBC published on Friday, August 28, 2026. Researchers from the BGS and the University of Oslo could not conduct field sampling due to COVID-19 lockdowns, prompting them to analyze rock cores drilled roughly 80 years ago. These samples came from hundreds of meters deep at North Creake in Norfolk and Claxby in Lincolnshire. Using modern laboratory technology, the team focused on microscopic zircon crystals about the width of a human hair. These crystals form in liquid magma prior to eruptions and contain radioactive uranium that decays into lead over time. By measuring these lead isotopes, scientists established a precise age of 454,4 million years for both sample sites, confirming they originated from the same volcanic source.
Cataclysmic Eruption Force Equal to Millions of Nuclear Bombs
Analysis of the ancient structure reveals an eruption of staggering proportions. According to a report by WION on Monday, August 31, 2026, the cataclysm released energy equivalent to several thousand hydrogen bombs or up to one million atomic bombs. The explosion hurled between hundreds and 1,000 cubic kilometers of Earth’s crustal material directly into the stratosphere, reshaping the regional geology millions of years before the planet’s most famous prehistoric reptiles evolved.
Did you know? Zircon crystals act as natural geological clocks because they trap uranium during their formation, allowing researchers to measure radioactive decay and date ancient tectonic events with extreme precision.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big was the newly discovered supervolcano?
According to scientific estimates, the ancient supervolcano spans a diameter of 64 to 65 kilometers beneath the UK’s east coast, extending from The Wash into Norfolk and Lincolnshire.
When did the supervolcano erupt?
Radiometric dating of zircon crystals places the massive eruption at approximately 454,4 million years ago, roughly 200 million years before the appearance of dinosaurs.
How did researchers find the structure without field digging?
Scientists from the British Geological Survey and the University of Oslo analyzed decades-old drill core samples stored in archives during the COVID-19 lockdown, applying advanced isotope-dating technology to microscopic crystals.