Oldest rocks on Earth found in Canada, our newly-minted enemy and former ally

[Cypress]

Scientists say they have identified Earth’s oldest rocks. It could reveal an unknown chapter in our planet’s history​

A rocky outcrop in a remote corner of northern Quebec appears serene in its eerie isolation on the eastern shore of Canada’s Hudson Bay.

But over the past two decades, this exposed remnant of ancient ocean floor, known as the Nuvvuagittuq Greenstone Belt, has been a heated scientific battleground in the quest to identify Earth’s oldest rock.

New research suggests that the geological site harbors the oldest known surviving fragments of Earth’s crust, dating back to 4.16 billion years ago. It’s the only rock determined to be from the first of four geological eons in our planet’s history: the Hadean, which began 4.6 billion years ago when the world was hot, turbulent and hell-like.

“Rocks are books for geologists … and right now we’re missing the book (on the Hadean). The Nuvvuagittuq Greenstone Belt would be at least one page of that book, so that’s why it’s so important,” said geologist Jonathan O’Neil, author of the research published Thursday in the journal Science.

https://www.cnn.com/2025/06/27/science/oldest-earth-rock-discovery-canada-debate

 

[Yakuda]

Scientists say they have identified Earth’s oldest rocks. It could reveal an unknown chapter in our planet’s history​

A rocky outcrop in a remote corner of northern Quebec appears serene in its eerie isolation on the eastern shore of Canada’s Hudson Bay.

But over the past two decades, this exposed remnant of ancient ocean floor, known as the Nuvvuagittuq Greenstone Belt, has been a heated scientific battleground in the quest to identify Earth’s oldest rock.

New research suggests that the geological site harbors the oldest known surviving fragments of Earth’s crust, dating back to 4.16 billion years ago. It’s the only rock determined to be from the first of four geological eons in our planet’s history: the Hadean, which began 4.6 billion years ago when the world was hot, turbulent and hell-like.

“Rocks are books for geologists … and right now we’re missing the book (on the Hadean). The Nuvvuagittuq Greenstone Belt would be at least one page of that book, so that’s why it’s so important,” said geologist Jonathan O’Neil, author of the research published Thursday in the journal Science.

https://www.cnn.com/2025/06/27/science/oldest-earth-rock-discovery-canada-debate

So? who gives a shit

 

[Cypress]

So? who gives a shit

Right, there are plenty of guys who are only interested in pornography, meth, alcohol, and worshipping Trump.

 

[Trumpet]

So? who gives a shit

If this doesn't interest you, then why don't you just STFU????

 

[Trumpet]

Right, there are plenty of guys who are only interested in pornography, meth, alcohol, and worshipping Trump.

Then, there are those who are total intellectual invalids.

 

[Cypress]

Then, there are those who are total intellectual invalids.

It takes a certain level of curiosity to be interested in the age of the Earth, the age of the universe, or knowing when Alexander the Great conquered Persia.

But there's plenty of guys who are only interested in their next meth score, or in trolling the libtards on behalf of their tangerine Messiah. Their level of interest in anything beyond the hedonistic and mundane is up to them.

 

[Trumpet]

It takes a certain level of curiosity to be interested in the age of the Earth, the age of the universe, or knowing when Alexander the Great conquered Persia.

But there's plenty of guys who are only interested in their next meth score, or in trolling the libtards on behalf of their tangerine Messiah. Their level of interest in anything beyond the hedonistic and mundane is up to them.

Exactly

 

[WinterBorn]

So? who gives a shit

I think it is fascinating. Certainly better than the troll shooting gallery we have in so many threads.

 

[Cypress]

I think it is fascinating. Certainly better than the troll shooting gallery we have in so many threads.

Yeah, but you're a person with multiple interests and an abiding curiosity about the world.

When it comes to MAGA morons, they have mostly devoted their time and interests to mediocrity in trolling, and servicing their Tangerine Messiah.

 

[T. A. Gardner]

Scientists say they have identified Earth’s oldest rocks. It could reveal an unknown chapter in our planet’s history​

A rocky outcrop in a remote corner of northern Quebec appears serene in its eerie isolation on the eastern shore of Canada’s Hudson Bay.

But over the past two decades, this exposed remnant of ancient ocean floor, known as the Nuvvuagittuq Greenstone Belt, has been a heated scientific battleground in the quest to identify Earth’s oldest rock.

New research suggests that the geological site harbors the oldest known surviving fragments of Earth’s crust, dating back to 4.16 billion years ago. It’s the only rock determined to be from the first of four geological eons in our planet’s history: the Hadean, which began 4.6 billion years ago when the world was hot, turbulent and hell-like.

“Rocks are books for geologists … and right now we’re missing the book (on the Hadean). The Nuvvuagittuq Greenstone Belt would be at least one page of that book, so that’s why it’s so important,” said geologist Jonathan O’Neil, author of the research published Thursday in the journal Science.

https://www.cnn.com/2025/06/27/science/oldest-earth-rock-discovery-canada-debate

The Burgess Shale was discovered in 1909 on the other side of Canada. This is a rich fossil bearing formation from the Cambrian and Ordovician periods. The Nuvvuagittuq Greenstone Belt makes up part of the Hudson Bay Lowland area and the geology there is all ancient. This is nothing new. The Greenstone Belt only came into interest recently but it wasn't unknown.

The Precambrian are the earliest geologic formations.

Overall, this isn't some "new" discovery but simply ongoing research into the early geology of the planet in a location known for its antiquity.

 

[Cypress]

The Burgess Shale was discovered in 1909 on the other side of Canada. This is a rich fossil bearing formation from the Cambrian and Ordovician periods. The Nuvvuagittuq Greenstone Belt makes up part of the Hudson Bay Lowland area and the geology there is all ancient. This is nothing new. The Greenstone Belt only came into interest recently but it wasn't unknown.

The Precambrian are the earliest geologic formations.

Overall, this isn't some "new" discovery but simply ongoing research into the early geology of the planet in a location known for its antiquity.

The Burgess Shale is not that old compared to the age of the Earth. The Burgess Shale is probably somewhere around 400 million years BP.

The presence of Archean rocks on the Canadian Shield of course has been known for a long time. What's different about this study is that these rocks seem to be from the Haden Eon, and up until now we had almost no geologic remnants from that earliest period of Earth history. To my knowledge, there no unequivocally confirmed Hadean Eon rocks anywhere on Earth to date.