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Gravity lows mark burial sites of ancient tectonic plates

Dips in Earth's gravitational field tied to 'slab graveyards'

By Sid Perkins

- More than 2 years ago

Scientists have unearthed a new explanation for several low-gravity spots detected around the world. They’re blaming the anomalies on vast “slab graveyards” that lie buried deep near the planet’s core.

RESTING IN PIECES Earth’s gravitational field is much lower than average in some places (dark blue areas circled in red) because of water-rich material that lies over the dehydrated remnants of long-subducted tectonic slabs.