A striking black iceberg has been spotted off the coast of Labrador, Canada, and scientists and social media users alike are shocked and intrigued. The bizarre image was first captured on camera by Hallur Antoniussen, a fisherman working aboard his shrimp trawler Saputi off Carbonear. While navigating icy waters last month, Antoniussen encountered an iceberg unlike any he had seen before, pitch black in colour and diamond-shaped, which stood in stark contrast to the surrounding white and blue ice chunks.Even though it was hard to gauge from aboard the trawler, the fisherman estimated that the iceberg was at least three times as big as a typical bungalow. Taking the unusual opportunity, Antoniussen dashed to his cabin, grabbed his phone, and took a picture that would soon become an internet sensation.

What causes icebergs to appear black spotted in Labrador, Canada

Most icebergs are white because of the presence of innumerable small air bubbles contained in the ice. They scatter all wavelengths of light visible to the human eye and give the typical white or bluish colour. But when ice gets compressed gradually, it loses its air bubbles and becomes clearer, even glassy at times.According to the reports, dark or black icebergs are extremely rare and most often sign the presence of contamination. Soil, pebbles, or other dark substance can get incorporated into the ice as a glacier travels over ground. This specific iceberg could have come from a glacier that calved off the coast near Greenland, says glaciologist Lev Tarasov of Memorial University.

Scientists reveal hidden sediment core beneath the iceberg’s black surface

Tarasov explained that as the iceberg traveled south through Baffin Bay and along the Labrador coast, it gradually melted, revealing the darker, sediment-rich layers. “Ninety percent of the iceberg is actually submerged. What we’re seeing is just the tip. The black material may have once been buried deeper within the ice mass,” he noted.The meeting provides both a visual treat and a scientific enigma; one that shows the intricacy of glacial processes and the dynamic nature of our planet’s icy frontiers.

Viral sensation: Black iceberg sparks awe and online theories

When Antoniussen posted the picture, it spread rapidly online, attracting international interest. Social media users overwhelmed platforms with responses of amazement to rumors. “I’ve seen plenty of big icebergs, but never a black one,” wrote one user. Another commented, “This is my first time seeing a black iceberg!” Others proposed theories, including one suggesting that the dark color was due to a boulder resting atop the ice, possibly picked up by a glacier before calving into the ocean.Also Read | NASA postpones launch to investigate space station leaks, delaying Axiom-4 mission for crew safety checks: Report