The oldest rocks on the earth are more than four billion years old and were found in Quebec

The earth formed about 4.6 billion years ago during the geological eon of the Hadéan. Nevertheless, This term originates from the Greek god from hell. Furthermore, refers to the extreme heat that reigned on the planet at that time.

4.35 billion years ago, the earth has probably cooled enough for the first crust to form and that life appears.

However. Consequently. Similarly, we know very little about this first period in the history of the planet, because the rocks and the minerals of that time are extremely rare. For example. Consequently, The absence of preserved geological archives makes it difficult to reconstruct the aspect of the earth during the Hadéen. Consequently, which leaves many questions without response to the beginnings of its evolution.

We are part of a research team that confirmed that the oldest oldest rocks earth more than new known rocks on Earth are in North-du-Québec. Nevertheless. Consequently, Aged oldest rocks earth more than over four billion years, these rocks offer a rare and invaluable overview of the origins of our planet.

Remains of the Hadéen – Oldest rocks earth more than

The Eon of Hadéen is the first period of the geological. However, time scale. Similarly, It extends from the formation of the earth, 4.6 billion years ago, up to around 4.03 billion years ago.

The oldest terrestrial materials ever dated by scientists are extremely rare zircon minerals that have been discovered in Australia-Western. Meanwhile, These Zircons were formed 4.4 oldest rocks earth more than new billion years ago and. despite the oldest rocks earth more than erosion of their host rock, their sustainability allowed them to be preserved.

The study of these minerals provided us with clues to the Hadéan environment as well as on the constitution. However, the evolution of the oldest earthly crust. Consequently, The chemical composition of the zircons seems to indicate that they have formed in magmas from the melting of. sediments deposited at the bottom of an old ocean. Zircons would therefore be proof of rapid cooling during the Hadéan and the early appearance of liquid water oceans.

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Other research work on the Zircons of the Hadéen suggest that the first earthly crust was mafic. that is to say rich in magnesium and iron. Until recently, the existence of this crust remained to be confirmed.

In 2008. a study led by Jonathan O’Neil. an associate professor (doctoral student at McGill University at the time), argued that rocks in this old crust had been preserved in North-du-Québec and constituted the only known vestige of Hadéen.

Since then. the age of these rocks, discoveries in the belt of green rocks of Nuvvuactuq, arouses controversy and scientific debates.

Oldest rocks earth more than new

Old large. oldest rocks earth more than new solid rocks – Oldest rocks earth more than

Nuvvuaguq green rock belt is located in the northernest region in Quebec. in Nunavik, north of 55^e parallel. Most of the rocks that make it up are metamorphized volcanic rocks, rich in magnesium and iron. Those found there in greater quantity are called “ujaraaluk”, which means “old big and solid rock” in Inuktitut.

The age of 4.3 billion years was proposed after the detection of variations in the Néodyme 142 isotope. produced exclusively during the Hadéen by the radioactive disintegration of the Samarium 146. The relative proportions of the isotopes of Samarium. Neodymium have already been used to date meteorites. lunar rocks, but before 2008, this method had never been used to date land rocks.

However. this interpretation was challenged by several research groups. some of which studied zircons of the belt and proposed a younger age, of a maximum of oldest oldest rocks earth more than new rocks earth more than 3.78 billion years, thus locating them in the eon of the Archaean.

Confirmed Hadéan origin

In the summer of 2017, we returned to the Nuvvuaguactuq belt to examine old more close rocks. This time. we collected metagabbros, intrusive rocks that cross the rocky formation of Ujaraaluk, in the hope of obtaining independent age constraints. The fact that these metagabbros are in intrusion into the Ujaraaluk rocks means that the latter are older.

The project was led by Chris Sole. a master’s student at the University of Ottawa, who joined us on the field. Back in the laboratory, we collaborated with French geochronologist Jean-Louis Paquette. Two undergraduate students also participated in the project: David Benn (University of Ottawa) and Jeleli Plakholm (University of Carleton).

We have combined our field observations with petrology. geochemistry. geochronology, then applied two independent samarium-born dating methods, a technique used to estimate the oldest rocks earth more than new absolute age of oldest rocks earth more than magmatic rocks before they become metamorphic rocks. The two evaluations have given the same result: intrusive rocks have 4.16 billion years.

The oldest rocks

As these metagabbros cross the formation of Ujaraaluk. the rocks of Ujaraaluk must be even older, which places them resolutely in the Hadéan.

The study of the rocks of Nuvvuactuq. the only rocks of the preserved Hadéan, offers a unique opportunity to explore the oldest history of our planet. They could help us understand how the first continents were formed. how and when the environment of the earth has become habitable.