Qinghai, a Chinese province, has been the epicenter of a new enigma, as some pipes have appeared –the Baigong pipes–, structures that are embedded in the ground of the slope of Mount Baigong and are believed to be more than 150,000 years old. Diameters range from just a few centimeters to more than 40, some stick out from caves, others seem to sink into Lake Toson, and all share the same detail: their origin is still not entirely clear. Strange, right?
What do we know about these pipes
The first news came in the 90s, but it was not until 2002 that people began to pay attention to this discovery.
Chemical analyses pointed then that between 30 and 40% of the material was iron oxide, but also silica and calcium oxide. The curious thing is that even today, about 8-10% of the content has not been identified!
And yes, if you are wondering, plant matter and organic remains have been found embedded in their fragments! It is something so peculiar that many thought it could be a hydraulic system, and the more it was studied, the more theories appeared!
Fossilized roots?
It is the most accepted hypothesis. It is believed that over time, the original roots that were around decomposed, iron-rich minerals filtered in and ended up forming hardened cylinders that look like pipes. The process is called diagenesis and it would not be something new because it has already been seen in other parts of the world.
Mineral deposits?
This would be another hypothesis, ancient floods dragged sediments that were loaded with iron and calcium and filled rock fissures leaving these formations with cylindrical shapes for the remains.
Yes, this theory would fit with the chemical composition… but it is not fully accepted either, what will have formed these structures?
Long live speculation…
As in every good mystery, there could not be missing bolder hypotheses, yes, unknown civilizations and aliens, these are clearly our favorites! No, there is no archaeological evidence to justify other civilizations, not even human remains associated with the site and that leaves the ground free for speculation, and we love that!!!
And yes, of course local legends say that in Mount Baigong there was an “alien laboratory”, can you imagine? And they made cylinders of inexplicable materials because they wanted to.
But is there something confirmed?
No, there is not even a consensus about the exact age of these pipes, it is believed they are thousands of years old, but the methods do not explain absolutely anything more than that.
And there is no data that proves they were created by humans, and of course, extraterrestrial theories lack evidence.
It will remain an enigma
Of course, it combines tangible data (the shape, the composition, the unexplained organic matter) with many gaps in the research. In addition, we add the mystery of the place and the scarcity of published studies!
What is clear is that phenomena like this remind us that the planet still keeps many secrets for us and that geology can give surprises that seem to challenge what we know about the history of the Earth!
The Baigong pipes remain a scientific puzzle. Natural origins? Roots? Solidified deposits? Extraterrestrials? Human hands aging the structures? Who knows.
Until new studies are carried out with modern techniques and controlled excavations, the mystery will remain open and theories will continue to come to light. Could that be part of the magic that surrounds this place? How is it possible that even in the middle of the technological era there are corners of the planet that give us more questions than answers?