Brazilian Researchers Find 'Terrifying' Plastic Rocks on Distant Island

Geology¹ is the study of rocks, soil, and the physical structure of the Earth. The geology of Brazil's volcanic² Trindade Island, a home for turtles, is causing concern due to the presence of rocks made from leftover³ plastic.

The island is about 1,140 km from the southeastern state of Espirito Santo. Researchers say the discovery of melted plastic mixed with rocks on the island is evidence of humans' growing influence over the earth's geological⁴ movements.

"This is new and terrifying at the same time, because pollution has reached geology," said Fernanda Avelar Santos. She is a geologist⁵ at the Federal University of Parana.

Santos and her team ran chemical tests to find out what kind of plastics are in the rocks called "plastiglomerates." They are called "plastiglomerates" because they are made up of small parts of rock and other materials and it is held together by plastic.

Santos said they identified the pollution as mainly coming from fishing gear⁶, which is a very common waste on the coast of Trinidade Island. She said the gear is pulled by sea currents and gathers on the beach. When the temperature rises, the plastic melts and becomes mixed with the beach's natural material.

Trindade Island is one of the world's most important conservation areas for green turtles, or Chelonia mydas. Thousands arrive each year to lay their eggs. The only humans that live on Trindade are members of the Brazilian navy. It keeps a base on the island and protects the turtles.

"The place where we found these samples (of plastic) is a permanently⁷ preserved area in Brazil, near the place green turtles lay their eggs," Santos said.

Santos said the discovery raises questions about the effect humans have had on the earth.

"We talk so much about the Anthropocene, and this is it," Santos said. The Anthropocene is a proposed geological period in which human activities have had a very important effect on the earth's environment and climate.

She said the pollution, the waste in the sea, and plastic incorrectly thrown out in the oceans are becoming geological material "... preserved in the earth's records."

Words in This Story

turtle – n. a reptile⁸ that lives mostly in water and that has a hard shell which covers its body

terrify – v. to cause (someone) to be extremely afraid

sample – n. a small amount of something that gives you information about the thing it was taken from

preserve – n. an area where plants, animals, or minerals are protected

1 geology   

n.地质学，（某地）地质

参考例句：

• The students went to study the geology of that region.学生们去研究那个地区的地质情况。
• In his lecture on geology,he touched on the subject of climate.他在关于地质学的报告中，也涉及气候问题。

2 volcanic   

adj.火山的；象火山的；由火山引起的

参考例句：

• There have been several volcanic eruptions this year.今年火山爆发了好几次。
• Volcanic activity has created thermal springs and boiling mud pools.火山活动产生了温泉和沸腾的泥浆池。

3 leftover   

n.剩货，残留物，剩饭；adj.残余的

参考例句：

• These narrow roads are a leftover from the days of horse-drawn carriages.这些小道是从马车时代沿用下来的。
• Wonder if that bakery lets us take leftover home.不知道那家糕饼店会不会让我们把卖剩的带回家。

4 geological   

adj.地质（学）的

参考例句：

• aeons of geological history 数以亿万年计的地质史
• The workers skirted the edge of the cliff on a geological survey. 工人们沿着崖壁作了一次地质勘察。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 geologist   

n.地质学家

参考例句：

• The geologist found many uncovered fossils in the valley.在那山谷里，地质学家发现了许多裸露的化石。
• He was a geologist,rated by his cronies as the best in the business.他是一位地质学家，被他的老朋友们看做是这门行当中最好的一位。

6 gear   

n.齿轮，传动装置，设备，衣服；vt.使适应

参考例句：

• We have to gear our lives to the new changes.我们必须使自己的生活适应新的变化。
• The teeth of the wheel gear into each other.齿轮互相啮合。

7 permanently   

adv.永恒地，永久地，固定不变地

参考例句：

• The accident left him permanently scarred.那次事故给他留下了永久的伤疤。
• The ship is now permanently moored on the Thames in London.该船现在永久地停泊在伦敦泰晤士河边。

8 reptile   

n.爬行动物；两栖动物

参考例句：

• The frog is not a true reptile.青蛙并非真正的爬行动物。
• So you should not be surprised to see someone keep a reptile as a pet.所以，你不必惊奇有人养了一只爬行动物作为宠物。