Scientists unearth remarkable volcanic origins of Lord Howe Island

Key points

• Scientists have discovered that Lord Howe Island and a nearby underwater volcanic chain formed from the same deep Earth hotspot. The research, published in Gondwana Research, challenges previous ideas about mantle plumes, suggesting they can split into two branches.
• The study used 3D modelling and rock samples to reveal how the volcanic plume split around an obstacle deep beneath the Tasman Sea, creating the two parallel chains.
• The findings could help map Earth's interior and predict future undersea volcanoes.