Earth has existed for 4.54 billion years, and during that time, our planet has undergone a number of violent transitions. This makes it difficult for researchers to find out what happened during Earth’s early history, as most of the evidence was destroyed eons ago.
However, scientists have discovered ancient rocks scattered throughout the globe. These remnants provide a glimpse into Earth’s infancy and help scientists trace our planet’s development. Here are some of the oldest rocks ever discovered and the insights they provide about our home planet.
The Jack Hills, in Western Australia, contain tiny traces of rock that are older than the hills themselves. The 50-mile-long (80 kilometers) ridge contains crystallized minerals called zircons dating to 4.4 billion years ago, making them the oldest Earth materials ever found. Zircon crystals are durable; they can survive even when the rocks around them are destroyed, eroded or recycled back into Earth’s middle layer. Zircons contain radioactive uranium, which decays very slowly, thereby helping geologists accurately date the crystals. Some zircons in the Jack Hills, which date to around 4 billion years ago, also hint that early Earth had fresh water just 600 million years after it formed.
“Writer Fuel” is a series of cool real-world stories that might inspire your little writer heart. Check out our Writer Fuel page on the LimFic blog for more inspiration.
