Sofia Martinez
The term solid plastic in geology refers to a new type of sedimentary rock called plastiglomerate, which is formed from the fusion of natural rock and plastic waste. Plastiglomerate was first discovered in 2006 by oceanographer Captain Charles Moore on Kamilo Beach, Hawaii. It is created when plastic debris melts and combines with other sedimentary grains and natural debris, such as shells and wood. This process, known as lithification, turns loose sediment into solid rock, incorporating plastic into the rock matrix. The formation of plastiglomerate can occur through various mechanisms, such as campfires, waste-burning sites, or high temperatures from molten lava flows. This unique geological formation provides evidence of the impact of human activities on the planet and may serve as a marker of the Anthropocene era.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | Solid plastic in geology refers to a new form of sediment, borne from the collision between consumer culture and the natural world. |
| Formation | Solid plastic or "plastiglomerate" is formed when plastic waste becomes intertwined with natural rock elements. It can be created during campfire burning or during hot weather. |
| Composition | Plastiglomerate is a rock made of a mixture of sedimentary grains, and other natural debris (e.g. shells, wood) that is held together by plastic. |
| Impact | Plastiglomerate is denser than particles that are solely composed of plastic, which gives them greater potential to become buried and preserved in the rock record. It may become a part of the permanent geologic record and act as a marker of the Anthropocene era. |
| Locations | Kamilo Beach in Hawaii, Trindade Island, and various coastal and inland regions globally. |
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What You'll Learn
Plastic is now a geological phenomenon
The process of lithification, which turns loose sediment into solid rock, is incorporating plastic into the rock matrix. This new form of sediment, resulting from the collision between consumer culture and the natural world, could last for millennia in the geologic record.
Plastiglomerate, a rock made of a mixture of sedimentary grains, plastic, and other natural debris, is one example of this phenomenon. It forms along shorelines where natural sedimentary grains and organic debris are fused together by melted plastic. Plastiglomerate has been found on Kamilo Beach in Hawaii, where it was likely created from human campfires rather than molten lava flows.
Another example is plastistone, an emerging type of sedimentary rock that is a hybrid of natural rock and synthetic plastic. Plastistones have been found on a global scale, in both coastal and inland regions. They form through the fusion of natural rock and plastic waste, a startling indicator of human impact on the planet.
The presence of plastic in the Earth's geology provides an informal marker of the Anthropocene era, when human activities have altered the geologic history of the planet. As Dr. Patricia Corcoran, a geologist at the University of Western Ontario, noted, "One day in the future, people can look at this material and use it as a marker horizon to see that in around 2010, humans were polluting the planet with plastic."
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Plastic as a marker of the Anthropocene
Plastic has become an integral part of human life since its introduction in the 1950s. Its durability and longevity have led to its widespread presence in the environment, including in soils and ocean beds. The impact of plastic on the Earth is so significant that it has caught the attention of geologists and archaeologists, who are now considering its role as a marker of the Anthropocene.
The Anthropocene refers to a proposed new geological epoch that reflects the significant influence of humans on the planet. The term, derived from the Greek words "anthropo" (human) and "cene" (new), was coined in the 1980s and popularized in 2000 by scientists Paul J. Crutzen and Eugene F. Stoermer. They suggested that we are living in a new geological epoch defined by human-induced changes to the land, environment, water, organisms, and atmosphere.
The idea of the Anthropocene is still being debated by scientists, and one of the key discussions revolves around identifying a "golden spike" or a marker in the fossil record that clearly demarcates the Holocene from the Anthropocene. This marker needs to be significant and detectable in rock layers thousands, if not millions, of years into the future.
Plastic, with its distinct appearance and longevity, has emerged as a potential key marker of the Anthropocene. Its presence in both terrestrial and marine environments is widespread and easily recognizable. Plastiglomerate, a type of rock formed from the fusion of plastic with natural materials, has been identified as a possible marker horizon of human pollution on the geologic record. It was first discovered on Kamilo Beach, Hawaii by oceanographer Captain Charles Moore in 2006 and subsequently investigated and named by geologist Dr. Patricia Corcoran and visual artist Kelly Jazvac in 2012.
The formation of plastiglomerates occurs when plastic melts and binds with natural materials such as rocks, sediments, shells, and wood. This process can happen during campfire burning, hot weather, or the influence of lava flows or forest fires. The density of plastiglomerates gives them a greater potential to become buried and preserved in the rock record compared to plastic-only particles. This suggests that plastiglomerates could persist in the fossil record and serve as a lasting indicator of human pollution for future generations of scientists to discover.
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Plastic deformation
The concept of plastic deformation is particularly relevant in the context of human-made materials, such as plastic, finding their way into the Earth's crust. Plastic, with its remarkable durability, has become a prominent component of modern life and, consequently, a part of the geological record. Its presence in the Earth's strata serves as a marker of human impact on the planet.
Plastiglomerate, for example, is a type of rock formed from a mixture of sedimentary grains, natural debris (such as shells and wood), and plastic. These rocks are created when plastic melts and binds with other materials, often along shorelines or through human activities like campfires. They are denser than pure plastic particles, giving them a higher likelihood of becoming buried and preserved in the rock record.
The inclusion of plastic in geological formations, such as plastiglomerate, highlights the indelible mark humanity has made on the Earth. While it provides a timeline for when certain layers of the Earth were formed, it also serves as a stark reminder of the pervasive impact of human activities on our planet's geology.
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Plastistone formation
Plastic, a product of the post-World War II era, is now everywhere. Its hardiness has ensured that it has become a part of the Earth's geology, with geologists noting its presence in the Earth's crust. This has led to the emergence of a new type of sedimentary rock called plastistone, which is a fusion of plastic and rock.
Plastistone, also known as plastiglomerate, plasticrust, anthropoquinas, plastitar, or plastisandstone, is a rock formed when molten plastic cools within a mineral's matrix. The term plastistone was first coined in 2022 to keep the nomenclature aligned with other sedimentary rocks such as limestone and sandstone.
The formation of plastistone is a direct result of human plastic waste. These rocks usually form from land-based plastics, such as bottles and containers, which are burned, either during campfires or as part of the waste production process. The melted plastic debris then gets "held within the mineral matrix when it cools down" in a process known as diagenesis.
Plastistones have been found on at least five continents and 11 countries, including Hawaii, Brazil, Colombia, and Peru. They are a danger to ocean sustainability, the blue economy, and overall human health. Certain marine species, such as the gastropod Tectarius striatus, may confuse the plastics for algae.
The formation of plastistones has led to discussions about the impact of human activities on the Earth's geology and the complex problem of plastic pollution.
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Plastic pollution in pristine streams
Plastic, first produced in the 1950s, is now everywhere. Its hardiness and durability mean it does not break down easily and is estimated to persist in the environment for hundreds to thousands of years. Plastic has become such a central component of modern life that it has found its way into the Earth's crust, becoming a geological marker in recent strata.
Plastic debris is lightweight, allowing it to travel far and wide, and it is now present in river systems and pristine streams worldwide. River systems are important recipients of environmental plastic pollution and have become key pathways for the transfer of mismanaged waste from the land to the ocean.
A study by Kiss et al. in 2021 found that the majority of investigations of plastic pollution in rivers have concentrated on large cities in the basin, while rural river networks with low-intensity human activities and management levels have largely been neglected. The same study focused on two rivers in China's Yangtze River Basin: the Beijing-Hangzhou Canal, which flows through the metropolis of Suzhou, and the Hanjiang River, a pristine rural river flowing through Jingmen. The Hanjiang River, like many other rivers, is now facing the threat of plastic pollution.
One of the most well-known examples of plastic pollution in a pristine stream is the Tisza River, the Danube's largest tributary, which flows through Ukraine, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, and Serbia. The main source of plastic litter in the Tisza River is the flood of PET bottles coming from upstream Hungary, Ukraine, and Romania. At times, plastic waste reaches several meters in height in the floodplain of the river, a unique forest wilderness. In response, volunteers have organized clean-up efforts, such as the Plastic Cup, to raise awareness about river protection and the importance of waste management.
Another notable example of plastic pollution in a pristine stream is Kamilo Beach on the island of Hawaii, where plastiglomerate, a rock made of a mixture of sedimentary grains, plastic, and other natural debris (e.g., shells, wood), was first discovered. Plastiglomerate forms along shorelines where natural sedimentary grains and organic debris are agglutinated by melted plastic, often during campfire burning or hot weather. The presence of plastiglomerate in the geologic record may serve as a marker horizon of human pollution and may survive as future fossils.
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Frequently asked questions
Solid plastic in geology refers to the process of plastic deformation, where solid rock exposed to high temperatures and pressure deep in the Earth's crust can undergo folding, stretching, compression, and bending.
The types of solid plastic include plastiglomerate, plastitar, plasticrust, and plastistone.
Solid plastics are formed when plastic waste becomes intertwined with natural rock elements, leading to a unique geological formation. This process is known as lithification, which turns loose sediment into solid rock, incorporating plastic into the rock matrix.
Solid plastics have been found on a global scale, in both coastal and inland regions. They are particularly prevalent in locations with high levels of plastic pollution, such as Kamilo Beach in Hawaii.
The presence of solid plastics in geology is a startling indicator of human impact on the planet. Plastistones, in particular, have been shown to alter the microbial communities of their surrounding environment and can generate significant amounts of microplastics and nanoplastics, posing potential ecological risks.
