Scientists have discovered a potentially record-breaking rock formation in northeastern Canada that may hold the oldest rocks on Earth, dating back an impressive 4.16 billion years.
The discovery was made by researchers from the University of Ottawa, who used advanced techniques to analyze the age of volcanic rocks found in the Nuvvuagittuq Greenstone Belt. This region is located on the eastern shore of Canada’s Hudson Bay and contains some of the oldest rocks on Earth.
According to the study published in the journal Science, the rocks are remnants from the earliest crust of our 4.57 billion-year-old planet. The dating methods used by the researchers were novel and involved measuring the decay of radioactive isotopes in the rocks.
The results of the study suggest that if confirmed, they would offer a unique window into Earth’s ancient history, potentially revealing insights into how life emerged on our planet. The volcanic rocks found in the Nuvvuagittuq Greenstone Belt may have formed from seawater and could provide clues about the composition of our first oceans.
The discovery has significant implications for the search for life beyond Earth, as understanding the environment that gave birth to life on our planet can also inform the quest to find traces of life elsewhere in the universe.
Source: https://www.livescience.com/planet-earth/geology/rocks-in-canada-may-be-oldest-on-earth-dating-back-4-16-billion-years