Discovering Earth's Oldest Rocks: A Glimpse into Our Planet's Origins
Earth's oldest rocks, dating back over four billion years, have been found in northern Québec. These rare rocks offer valuable insights into the early history of our planet, shedding light on how Earth evolved during the Hadean Eon.
Earth formed about 4.6 billion years ago during the Hadean eon, named after the Greek god of the underworld due to the extreme heat. By 4.35 billion years ago, the Earth possibly cooled enough for life to emerge.
However, little is known about this early period as rocks and minerals from that time are rare, making it hard to reconstruct Earth's early history. The oldest rocks on Earth, over four billion years old, are found in northern Québec, offering insight into our planet's origins.
The Hadean Eon lasted from 4.6 to 4.03 billion years ago. Zircon minerals in western Australia, dating back to 4.4 billion years, provide clues about the Hadean environment and Earth's oldest crust formation.
In 2008, it was proposed that rocks in northern Québec's Nuvvuagittuq Greenstone Belt are remnants of the Hadean, with an age of 4.3 billion years. Recent studies confirmed this, placing these rocks in the Hadean Eon.
Studying these ancient rocks helps us understand Earth's early history, including the formation of continents and the evolution of its environment.
According to the source: The Conversation.
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