Scientists determine these ages by studying the magnetic properties of the seafloor. Therefore, when asking how old the ridge is, the answer is tied to the opening of the Atlantic.
Decoding the Secrets of Mid Atlantic Ridge Age
As magma rises from the mantle to fill this gap, it cools and solidifies, forming new oceanic crust. Because of this cycle of creation and destruction, the oldest rocks on the Atlantic seafloor are found at the edges of the continents, not in the middle.
Around 150 million years ago, a single ridge system began to split what would become the Atlantic. Near the Azores-Trieste Fracture Zone Approx.
Secrets of the Mid Atlantic Ridge Age Revealed Through Seafloor Magnetic Stripes
The oceanic crust created at the Mid-Atlantic Ridge eventually moves outward until it reaches a subduction zone, where it is recycled back into the mantle. By matching these magnetic stripes to the known geomagnetic reversal timeline, researchers can calculate how long ago specific sections of the ridge formed.
More About How old is the mid atlantic ridge
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