Scientists think they have found the oldest rocks on earth
Rock discovery offers fresh insights into planet’s earliest history
- A new study has identified rocks in Canada's Nuvvuagittuq Greenstone Belt as approximately 4.16 billion years old, potentially making them the oldest rocks on Earth.
- This research resolves a long-standing scientific debate regarding the precise age of these streaked grey stones, bridging previous estimates of 4.3 billion and 3.8 billion years.
- Scientists employed two established dating techniques, which measure the decay of radioactive elements, to arrive at the refined age.
- The discovery significantly contributes to understanding Earth's earliest formation, offering insights into the planet's primordial state and the origins of life.
- The ancient rock formation is located on tribal Inukjuak lands, and the local Inuit community has restricted sampling due to past damage, seeking to collaborate on establishing a provincial park for protection and research.