At first glance, the Klerksdorp balls appear to have been carved by humans. Found in the mid-20th century, they have perfect lines on their sides and look like prehistoric things. Everything would have fallen into place were it not for a very strange fact: the ball stones were trapped inside a 2.8 billion year old rock.
The balls resembling cricket balls, no more than 10 centimeters in diameter, were found in Ottosdal, South Africa, and brought to Klerksdorp, in the north of the country, where they are named.
Why are they mysterious?
The balls were embedded in a rock of pyrophyllite, a mineral used to make sculptures. The rock in question has been dated to 2.8 billion years old, long before the emergence of mankind. Which raised the question: Who sculpted the balls?
In the 1980s, rumors began to appear that the spheres were taken by NASA and that these spheres were the creation of an advanced civilization that existed on Earth before humans. This, of course, is nothing more than fake news, but it served to increase the notoriety of these things.
Since the origin of the spheres has remained a mystery, this has provided room for conspiracy theories about the origin to gain steam over the years.
What is the origin of the Klerksdorp domains?
According to the BBC Newsto put an end to the rumors, Society for the Rational Inquiry into Paranormal Phenomena He started an investigation to understand how these things came to be.
Research with geologists has come to the conclusion that the spheres formed through a process known as “dominant grouping,” which involves the formation of pyrophyllite around the sphere.
The main feature is what makes up this conglomerate, with several layers of lava deposited on top which, after much pressure and heat, has turned into pyrophyllite, which is what covers the globules.
Bruce Kirkhorn of the University of Johannesburg told the BBC
The curiosity of Klerksdorp is that they withstand the pressure and heat inside the rock, in addition to being victims of water erosion.
Read more:
“Spheres are known as concretions: spherical, elliptical or flat bodies composed of different minerals present in the host rock. They are very common, thousands have been found all over the world, ”added the specialist.
About the lines on the sides, he explains, “They are not actually lines, but rather layers. This is the product of tracks left by the host rock, which built up in layers over a long period, creating the effect you can see now.”
Have you seen the new videos on Youtube digital outlook? Subscribe in the channel!
George Orwell is a writer and contributor covering politics, society, culture, and current affairs. His work focuses on providing clear analysis and thoughtful commentary on the issues shaping modern Britain and the wider world, helping readers better understand complex topics.
