Researchers claim they may have found the oldest rocks on Earth. The rocks in question consist of a band of swirling, striped formations located in the northeastern part of Canada. These rocks seem to contain some of the oldest minerals ever recorded. This rock formation is referred to as the Nuvvuagittuq Greenstone Belt, and recent dating evaluations indicate it could be as ancient as 4.16 billion years.
That’s nearly as old as the estimated Earth’s age. These findings imply that the belt could be one of the prime sites for exploring the early years of our planet. However, researchers did not reach this conclusion easily. The Nuvvuagittuq Greenstone Belt has been analyzed for more than 15 years, geoscientists informed Science Alert.
By validating the age of these rocks, which may be the oldest on Earth, we are finally paving the way for new research opportunities. While there are likely other rock formations similar to this one that could be located elsewhere, the Earth’s surface and crust are perpetually in flux as tectonic activities interact with the weathering factors above. This results in a distinctive region for rocks and soil to shift and decompose.
Consequently, locating other areas akin to the Nuvvuagittuq Greenstone Belt that are rich in ancient and distinct minerals presents considerable challenges. Sites like this, where the rocks have managed to endure the ravages of time, are immensely valuable for providing insight into the past, which may one day aid in uncovering the origins of life on Earth.
The oldest rocks on Earth are particularly beneficial for scientists, as they hold Hadean minerals, which are minerals from the planet’s initial geological eon. This specific eon extends from the formation of Earth to just over 4 billion years ago. However, determining the age of the Nuvvuagittuq Greenstone Belt has proven challenging due to previous dating attempts yielding inconsistent results, ranging from 2.7 billion years to 4.3 billion years.
In this new study, published in Science, the researchers employed two dating methods on a rock type known as metagabbro. Both analyses produced identical outcomes, indicating that the researchers were headed in the right direction. While they aim to further explore the analysis itself, the researchers assert that the minimum age of the Nuvvuagittuq Greenstone Belt is 4.16 billion years.
