These may be the oldest rocks on the ground

Scientists have identified what the oldest rocks on the ground could be a rock formation in Canada.

Nuvvuagituq Greenstone is known for its old rocks – plains of metadian -metric stone on the eastern beach of Hudson Bay in Quebec. But researchers do not agree to their age exactly.

The conflict apparently settled

The work has suggested for two decades that rocks may be 4.3 billion years old, which puts them as soon as possible. But other scientists who use a different dating method competed for the result, on the pretext that long pollutants were superior to the era of rocks and that they were a little younger-at 3.8 billion years.

In the new study, the researchers took samples from a different section of the rocks from the belt and estimated its life using the previous dating techniques – they measure how a radioactive element decomposes to the passage of time. The result: The rocks were about 4.16 billion years.

The author of the study, Jonathan O’Neill, with Ottawa University, said that the various methods “gave exactly the same age.”

The new research was published on Thursday in the magazine.

Old rocks can shed light on the first days of the earth

The Earth was formed about 4.5 billion years ago from a cloud of dust and gas shortly after the presence of the solar system. Primitive rocks are often dissolved and recycled with Earth’s moving plates, making them very rare on the surface today. Scientists have unveiled 4 billion rocks of another formation in Canada called the ACSTA GNEISS complex, but Nuvuagituq rocks may be older.

The study of rocks from the early history of the Earth can give a glimpse of how the planet appears – how the oceans of magma gave it the way to tectonic paintings – and even how life began.

“You have a sample of what was going on on the ground at that time of value,” said Mark Reagan of Iowa University, who studies volcanic rocks and lava and did not participate in the new study.

The Inquin community wants steps to avoid the exploitation of rocks

The formation of rocks is located on Inukjuak tribal lands, and the local Invita community has briefed scientists from taking samples from the site due to the damage caused by previous visits.

After some geologists visited the site, the large pieces of rocks were missing and the community noticed pieces for sale online, said Tommy with the button, who runs the land with Pituvik Landholding Corp. The Invett community wants to work with scientists to establish a regional garden that protects the land while allowing researchers to study it.

“There is a lot of attention to these rocks, which we understand,” said the button, a member of society. “We just don’t want more damage.”