Scientists determine these ages by studying the magnetic properties of the seafloor. Here, the Eurasian Plate and the North American Plate are pulling away from each other, while the African Plate and the South American Plate are doing the same on the opposite side.
Tracing the Geological Timeline of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge's Formation
16 to 20 million years old The only part rising significantly above sea level due to a hotspot. As volcanic rock solidifies, it locks in the Earth's magnetic polarity at that moment.
Around 150 million years ago, a single ridge system began to split what would become the Atlantic. The sections of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge near the Arctic and its connection to the Gakkel Ridge are estimated to be up to 140 to 150 million years old, dating back to the early days of the Atlantic Ocean.
Tracing the Formation and Age of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge System
Over millions of years, this system evolved, with segments becoming more defined and the ridge taking on the sprawling "S" shape we see today. 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.
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