(Gray News) – Scientists say humankind’s influence on the natural world has reached a new level as a new type of sedimentary rocks partially formed from plastic has been discovered.

This new rock has been named plastistone, according to a study published December in Earth Science News.

The study said sedimentary rocks are the dominant rock type found on the planet’s surface, and they’re highly susceptible to influence by human activities.

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The study authors said many different types of plastic-rock complexes have been reported around the world in the past few years, but a holistic understanding of these formations is lacking.

The scientists said they contend that the new plastic forms called plastistone meet the criteria of a sedimentary rock and said they now recognize it as a distinctive type of sedimentary rock.

The term plastistone aligns with the names used to refer to other sedimentary rocks like limestone, dolostone, sandstone, and mudstone.

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Plastistones can be found on a global scale, both on the coast and in regions inland, with the polymer types most commonly making them up being polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, and polypropylene.

The plastic forming these rocks mainly come from domestic waste, like packaging and containers, or from maritime activities.

The study authors said the discovery of this type of rock provides “compelling evidence” of how humans can affect the geological record of the planet.