A Cast of Pods

S2 #28: The Gigantic Salt Diapirs of the Gulf of Mexico


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**Myron Cook's YouTube video** explains the geological formation of a massive salt deposit in the Gulf of Mexico. **Using bathymetry maps and seismic imaging**, Cook illustrates the unique topography of the ocean floor, highlighting numerous crater-like depressions. He proposes that these features resulted from the movement of a thick salt layer, comparing the process to pancake formation and referencing the Teton Mountains to scale the salt's thickness. The video explores the origin of the salt from ancient seawater evaporation during the breakup of the supercontinent Pangaea, and explains how the subsequent sediment loading caused the salt to flow and form the observed features. Finally, Cook emphasizes the immense scale and fascinating geology of this largely unknown geological feature.

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A Cast of PodsBy Jose Acierto