Massive structures buried deep within the Earth’s mantle have been found to be more than a billion years old, according to recent research. These continent-sized formations, referred to as large low-seismic-velocity provinces (LLSVPs), are believed to be both older and hotter than their surrounding mantle. Situated at the boundary between the mantle and the outer core, approximately 3,000 kilometres beneath the Earth’s surface, these formations have puzzled scientists for decades. Their nature and origin have remained unclear, with seismic waves slowing down significantly when passing through them, suggesting distinct physical and compositional properties. Blobs Deep Beneath Earth’s Surface According to the study published in Nature, seismic data from over 100 significant earthquakes were analysed to understand these structures. As reported by space.com, Arwen Deuss, a seismologist at Utrecht University in the Netherlands, told Live Science that the primary observation has been the reduction in speed of seismic waves passing through these regions. However, an unexpected result was the reduced energy loss of these waves compared to the surrounding mantle, suggesting that factors beyond temperature influence …