Possible Revision: Solving the Enigma of Antarctica’s Ancient ‘Blood Waterfall’

More than a century ago, geoscientist Griffith Taylor made an extraordinary discovery while exploring Antarctica. The pristine meltwater flowing beneath the Taylor Glacier undergoes a remarkable transformation, turning blood-red upon exposure to the air.

Ever since the discovery of Blood Falls, scientists have been fascinated by its enigmatic nature. In 2017, a research team used a special ground-penetrating radar to investigate the phenomenon. They found that intricate networks of fissures in the bedrock and tunnels within the ice create a hidden saltwater reservoir that sustains the waterfall at the glacier’s edge. The water continues to flow, defying the freezing temperatures, thanks to the combination of high salt concentration and pressure at the glacier base. However, the reason behind the sudden color change remained a mystery. Typically, rocks or springs acquire a reddish hue due to the weathering of iron-rich minerals like magnetite, goethite, or hematite, also known as bloodstone. However, studies conducted in the 1960s revealed only minimal traces of such minerals in water samples from the Taylor Glacier, which couldn’t explain the intense crimson color. Another hypothesis suggested a mass proliferation of red ice algae within the melting glacier, but despite finding traces of carbon, no confirmation of algae was obtained.

A research team led by the University of Alaska Fairbanks and Colorado College embarked on a mission to solve this captivating puzzle, employing a combination of analysis techniques. The team utilized Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) to study water and soil samples collected from Blood Falls. TEMs can magnify objects by up to 2 million times.

Under the microscope, the researchers made a fascinating discovery. They observed tiny spheres floating in the water, measuring only a few nanometers in diameter (one billionth of a meter). Chemical analysis using X-rays revealed that these nanospheres consist of iron, silica, calcium, aluminum, sodium, and various other elements. Previous studies had missed these spheres due to their minuscule size and lack of a crystalline structure, making them undetectable through standard analytical methods employed by mineralogists.

The study concluded that iron indeed plays a role in the color transformation of Blood Falls, but not in the way previously assumed. Instead of free iron atoms or iron-rich minerals reacting with oxygen, it is the iron within these nanospheres that undergoes a chemical reaction upon contact with the air, forming iron-oxides and -hydroxides. Furthermore, the high salinity and the presence of other elements such as chlorine, magnesium, and sodium likely contribute to the formation of yellow to orange-colored iron-phases, resulting in the blood-like coloration of the waterfall.

The research titled “A Multi-Technique Analysis of Surface Materials From Blood Falls, Antarctica” was published in the prestigious journal Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences (2023).

Denial of responsibility! TechCodex is an automatic aggregator of the all world’s media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.