Scientists at Curtin University in Australia have found tiny crystals, no thicker than a human hair, that have captured signals from space in sand.
Working alongside researchers from the University of Gottingen and the University of Cologne, the team found that microscopic zircon grains buried in Australia's coastal sands contain trapped krypton gas that acts as a natural "cosmic clock."
This mineral has survived countless cycles of weathering and transport, carrying within it a hidden record of surface exposure.
It's essentially geology with a stopwatch, giving scientists an unprecedented tool for tracking ancient landscape evolution.
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When cosmic rays, high-energy particles streaming in from space, strike zircon crystals at Earth's surface, they trigger a process called cosmogenic nuclide production.
This gradually fills the minerals with measurable amounts of krypton over time.
By extracting and analysing this trapped gas, researchers can work out exactly how long each crystal spent near the surface before getting buried underground.
Lead author Dr Maximilian Drollner said the technique opens doors to studying landscapes far older than previous methods allowed.
Scientists at Curtin University have found tiny crystals in sand
|GETTY
"Our planet's history shows climate and tectonic forces can control how landscapes behave over very long timescales," he explained.
They found that, in regions where tectonic activity is minimal and sea levels stay consistently high, erosion slows dramatically.
Sediments can remain near the surface for millions of years without being washed away or buried deep underground.
Professor Chris Kirkland, who leads Curtin's Timescales of Mineral Systems Group, pointed out the broader significance.
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Lead author Dr Maximilian Drollner said the technique opens doors to studying landscapes far older than previous methods allowed
|CRUTIN UNIVERSITY
He said: "As we modify natural systems, we can expect changes in how sediment is stored in river basins and along coastlines.
"Our results show that these processes can fundamentally reshape landscapes, not just coastlines, over time."
This has implications for planners and environmental scientists thinking about long-term coastal behaviour.
The research also has positive implications for Australia's mineral resources.
Associate Professor Milo Barham explained the connection between climate patterns and where valuable deposits end up.
He said: "Climate doesn't just influence ecosystems and weather patterns, it also controls where mineral resources end up and how accessible they become.
"Extended periods of sediment storage allow durable minerals to gradually concentrate while less stable materials break down, explaining why Australia hosts some of the world's most significant mineral sand deposits."
Essentially, the longer zircon hangs around near the surface, the richer those sediment layers become in valuable materials, which could help identify future resources more efficiently.
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