Scientists have discovered a new window into Earth’s earliest history, with rocks from the Nuvvuagittuq Greenstone Belt in northern Quebec dating back an astonishing 4.16 billion years. This finding is the oldest known rock to be dated, providing a unique insight into the planet’s formation and evolution.
Researchers used two independent testing methods to determine the age of the rocks, which are primarily composed of metamorphosed volcanic basalt. The tests were based on the radioactive decay of elements samarium and neodymium, producing consistent results that confirm the rocks’ ancient origin.
The Nuvvuagittuq Greenstone Belt is thought to harbor fragments of Earth’s oldest crust, the planet’s outermost solid shell. These fragments offer a glimpse into the conditions during the Hadean eon, a time shrouded in mystery due to the scarcity of physical remains.
Lead researcher Jonathan O’Neil noted that these rocks provide a rare opportunity to study the earliest stages of life on Earth. “These rocks and the Nuvvuagittuq belt being the only rock record from the Hadean, they offer a unique window into our planet’s earliest time to better understand how the first crust formed on Earth and what were the geodynamic processes involved,” he said.
The discovery sheds new light on the formation of the moon and the evolution of life on Earth. O’Neil explained that the rocks may have formed when rain fell on molten rock, cooling and solidifying it, providing valuable insights into the composition of ancient oceans.
This finding surpasses previous estimates, which placed the oldest known rocks at around 4.03 billion years ago from Canada’s Northwest Territories. The study’s results are a significant breakthrough in understanding Earth’s early history, offering a unique perspective on the planet’s formation and evolution.
Source: https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2025-06-26/rocks-in-canadas-quebec-province-found-to-be-the-oldest-on-earth