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- These may be the oldest rocks on Earth (cbsnews.com)
Canadian Rocks May Be Oldest Yet Discovered
Scientists believe they may have identified the oldest rocks yet discovered on Earth, found in a rock formation in Canada. The Nuvvuagittuq Greenstone Belt, located on the eastern shore of Hudson Bay in Quebec, has long been thought to contain extremely old rocks. Previous studies dated the rocks to either 4.3 billion or 3.8 billion years old, depending on the dating method used.
New research, published in the journal Science, examined a different section of the rock formation and employed both previously used dating techniques. Both methods, which measure the decay of radioactive elements, yielded the same result: an estimated age of 4.16 billion years old, placing the rocks in the earliest period of Earth’s history. Study author Jonathan O’Neil of the University of Ottawa expressed surprise that the different methods “gave exactly the same age.”
These ancient rocks offer a unique window into the planet’s early development, including the formation of tectonic plates and potentially even the origins of life. Because Earth’s tectonic activity constantly recycles rocks, primordial rocks are exceptionally rare.
While 4-billion-year-old rocks have been found in Canada’s Acasta Gneiss Complex, the Nuvvuagittuq rocks could be even older. Mark Reagan, a volcanic rock expert at the University of Iowa not involved in the study, emphasized the value of such samples, saying, “To have a sample of what was going on on Earth way back then is really valuable.”
The Nuvvuagittuq Greenstone Belt is located on Inukjuak tribal lands. The local Inuit community has temporarily restricted rock sampling at the site due to damage from previous research expeditions.
Tommy Palliser, who manages the land, reported large chunks of rock missing after geologist visits, with pieces later appearing for sale online. The community aims to collaborate with scientists to establish a provincial park that would protect the area while still permitting research.
“There’s a lot of interest for these rocks, which we understand,” Palliser stated. “We just don’t want any more damage.”
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- These may be the oldest rocks on Earth (cbsnews.com)