Story perspectives

Study Reveals Green River's Ancient Geological Secrets

2/5/2026

39 3

Summary

Story summary

A study finds the Green River cuts through a 50-million-year-old range in the Uinta Mountains, while the river is about 8 million years old.
Researchers led by Adam Smith of the University of Glasgow propose lithospheric drip as the mechanism.
Seismic imaging shows a dense mineral chunk 200 kilometers below the surface, supporting the theory.
The findings appear in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface, underscoring Earth's dynamic geology.

1 of 1

Story summary

A study finds the Green River cuts through a 50-million-year-old range in the Uinta Mountains, while the river is about 8 million years old.
Researchers led by Adam Smith of the University of Glasgow propose lithospheric drip as the mechanism.
Seismic imaging shows a dense mineral chunk 200 kilometers below the surface, supporting the theory.
The findings appear in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface, underscoring Earth's dynamic geology.