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But a recent discovery by scientists shows a new addition to the rock record, and its partly man-made.
The new hybrid rock type is called a plastiglomerate, and the colorful stones are cropping up on shorelines in Hawaii. Theyre multicolored and multitextured, a mosaic of stone veined with polymer. Plastiglomerates are formed when plastic is melted and hardens into pores of existing rocks. Theyre usually between 2 and 8 inches, and rounded from erosion on the shore.
Dr. Patricia Corcoran, associate professor at the University of Western Ontario, and Charles J. Moore, an oceanographer credited for bringing the Great Pacific Garbage Patch to national attention, discovered plastiglomerates on Kamilo Beach, a stretch of shoreline along the southeast coast of the island of Hawaii. Currents from the North Pacific gyre lead here, and often carry debris to the shore. The beach is also remote, deterring regular cleanup efforts. These two factors make the beach a dumping ground for plastic.
Plastiglomerates are formed through a seemingly innocent activity: campfires. Because the beach is difficult to get to, campers often stay for a week or more, using fires as a source of heat during their stay. Dr. Corcoran said plastic often ends up in fire pits just because its so plentiful, but melting garbage can also be a misguided attempt to clean up the beach. We spoke with people who had a fire and said, Were just helping get rid of it, she said. Theyre not aware of the environmental dangers of that.
Plastic Permanence: Our litter is now part of the geologic record | Sierra Club
But a recent discovery by scientists shows a new addition to the rock record, and its partly man-made.
The new hybrid rock type is called a plastiglomerate, and the colorful stones are cropping up on shorelines in Hawaii. Theyre multicolored and multitextured, a mosaic of stone veined with polymer. Plastiglomerates are formed when plastic is melted and hardens into pores of existing rocks. Theyre usually between 2 and 8 inches, and rounded from erosion on the shore.
Dr. Patricia Corcoran, associate professor at the University of Western Ontario, and Charles J. Moore, an oceanographer credited for bringing the Great Pacific Garbage Patch to national attention, discovered plastiglomerates on Kamilo Beach, a stretch of shoreline along the southeast coast of the island of Hawaii. Currents from the North Pacific gyre lead here, and often carry debris to the shore. The beach is also remote, deterring regular cleanup efforts. These two factors make the beach a dumping ground for plastic.
Plastiglomerates are formed through a seemingly innocent activity: campfires. Because the beach is difficult to get to, campers often stay for a week or more, using fires as a source of heat during their stay. Dr. Corcoran said plastic often ends up in fire pits just because its so plentiful, but melting garbage can also be a misguided attempt to clean up the beach. We spoke with people who had a fire and said, Were just helping get rid of it, she said. Theyre not aware of the environmental dangers of that.
When we hear the word "disposable", we should think "permanent".
