Some of the oldest rocks on Earth are found in the Acasta Gneiss complex in Canada, the Isua Greenstone Belt in Greenland, and the Jack Hills region in Western Australia.
Acasta Gneiss complex: The Acasta Gneiss complex is located in the Northwest Territories of Canada and contains some of the oldest rocks on Earth, dating back to around 4.03 billion years ago. The rocks in this complex are thought to have formed from the remnants of the Earth’s earliest crust, which has since been subducted and re-melted several times.
Isua Greenstone Belt: The Isua Greenstone Belt is located in southwestern Greenland and contains some of the oldest rocks on Earth, dating back to around 3.7-3.8 billion years ago. These rocks are volcanic and were likely formed from magma that erupted onto the Earth’s surface during the early stages of the planet’s formation.
Jack Hills region: The Jack Hills region is located in Western Australia and contains some of the oldest known mineral grains on Earth, called zircons. Some of these zircons have been dated to be as old as 4.4 billion years, making them some of the oldest materials ever discovered on Earth. These zircons were likely formed from magma that cooled and crystallized deep beneath the Earth’s surface.
Overall, these ancient rocks and minerals provide important clues about the early history and formation of the Earth, and have helped scientists to better understand the processes that shaped our planet over billions of years.
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