Russia just found huge oil reserves in Antarctica
www.newsweek.com
The reserves uncovered contain around 511 billion barrels worth of oil.

While territorial claims are and will likely be heated, what struck me is that the area is right near the Drake Passage, in the Weddell Sea (which is fundamental to the world’s ocean currents AFAIU).

I don’t know how oil drilling in the antarctic could affect the passage, but still, I’m not sure I would trust human oil hunger with a 10ft pole on that one.

Also interestingly, the discovery was made by Russia, which is a somewhat ominous clue about where the current “multi-polar” world and climate change are heading. Antarctica, being an actual continent that thrived with life up until only about 10-30 M yrs ago, is almost certainly full of resources.

    • qprimed@lemmy.mlEnglish
      191·
      2 months ago

      ever get the feeling that devil’s blood really is the final “fuck you, mammals!” from the dinosaurs?

          • acockworkorange@mander.xyzEnglish
            10·
            2 months ago

            Congrats on joining the daily 10,000.

            BTW there were tar pits present in the Triassic. That’s just how old oil is.

            • qprimed@lemmy.mlEnglish
              3·
              2 months ago

              so, quite literally there were non trivial stores of energy dense hydrocarbons available almost immediately after the permian? thats pretty wild.

              any real evidence for large amounts of abiogenic oil, or is this still on the weird end of strange?

              • acockworkorange@mander.xyzEnglish
                3·
                2 months ago

                Sorry, meant to say Jurassic. Oil formation time isn’t consensus yet, but it’s estimated it can take as little as a couple hundred thousand years, so it’s possible there were tar pits in the Triassic. I’m not aware of any evidence to it, but I’m no geologist or archaeologist.

                As for abiogenic oil, first I’m hearing of it. Not a clue. Seems fringe.

                • qprimed@lemmy.mlEnglish
                  2·
                  2 months ago

                  thanks for the update!

                  yeah, the abiogenesis idea has been around since the 1950s-ish, I think. it comes and goes, but never seems to get fully debunked. current tepid consensus seems to be that its a plausible earth geo-process, but likely only a very, very minor contributor on this world.

                  really apprreciate the interaction. :-)

            • AngryCommieKender@lemmy.worldEnglish
              3·
              2 months ago

              Hell, there are still tar pits with mammoths and dino skeletons stuck in them to this day! I saw them when I was 5, and vaguely remember the Le Brea Tar pits. Apparently I charmed the staff with my knowledge of dinosaurs and which eras they lived in. Of course this was the '80s so they didn’t have feathers yet.