Scientists have discovered what may be the oldest rocks on Earth in a formation located in Canada.
The Nuvvuagittuq Greenstone Belt, a region of ancient, gray-streaked stone along Quebec’s eastern Hudson Bay, has long intrigued geologists for its potential to hold some of Earth’s earliest geological history. However, experts have debated just how old the rocks truly are.
Early research from around 20 years ago proposed that the rocks were as old as 4.3 billion years, placing them close to the planet’s formation. But that estimate was challenged by other scientists, who argued that contamination may have affected the results, suggesting instead that the rocks were likely closer to 3.8 billion years old.
In a new study, scientists analyzed a different section of the rock formation, applying both of the previous radiometric dating techniques, which involve tracking the decay of radioactive elements. Their findings estimate the rocks’ age at around 4.16 billion years — still placing them among the oldest known materials on Earth.
