Scientists Solve Mystery Behind One Of The Earth's Oldest Star Sand Dunes

Researchers have estimated for the first time the age of one such star dune called Lala Lallia in Morocco.

In a groundbreaking study, researchers have finally solved the mystery surrounding the age of Earth's largest sand dunes. According to BBC, these dunes also called 'Star dunes' or 'pyramid dunes' are named after their distinctive shapes and reach hundreds of metres in height. They are widespread in deserts including the sand seas of Africa, Arabia, China, and North America, as well as on Mars and Saturn's moon Titan.

Prof Geoff Duller of the Department of Geography and Earth Sciences at Aberystwyth said, ''They are extraordinary things, one of the natural wonders of the world. From the ground, they look like pyramids but from the air, you see a peak and radiating off it in three or four directions these arms make them look like stars.''

Now, researchers have estimated the age of one such star dune called Lala Lallia in Morocco, for the first time. The scientists used a technique called luminescence dating to work out the age of the star dune. The method calculates when the grains of sand were last exposed to daylight.