Scientists have identified what can be the oldest rocks on Earth by building a rock in Canada.
Nuvvuagittuq Greenstone Belt has long been known for its ancient rocks – Streak Gray Stone grounds on the eastern coast of Hudson Bay in Quebec. But researchers disagree on how old they are.
Jonathan O’Neel / AP 
Dispute clearly settled
For two decades ago, work suggested that rocks may be 4.3 billion years old, keeping them in the early stages of the Earth’s history. But other scientists using a different dating method discovered, arguing that the long-standing contaminant rocks were slanting and they were really a little smaller-at the age of 3.8 billion.
In the new study, researchers sampled a separate section of rock from the belt and estimated their age using the previous two dating techniques – measuring how a radioactive element decreases in another over time. Results: The rocks were around 4.16 billion years old.
Different methods with the University of Ottawa “gave the same age at the same age,” said Jonathan O’Neel, the author of the study.
The new research was published in Journal Science on Thursday.
Jonathan O’Neel / AP 
Ancient rocks can throw light on the early days of the Earth
Prithvi formed around 4.5 billion years ago with a collapse of dust and gas soon after the solar system came into existence. Primardial rocks often melt and recycled the Earth’s moving tectonic plates, making them extremely rare on the surface today. Scientists have highlighted 4 billion -year -old rocks from another formation in Canada, called the Acasta Gneiss Complex, but nuvvuagittuagittuag rocks can be even larger.
Studying the rocks from the early history of the Earth can give a glimpse of how the planet can be seen – its Roelling magma oceans gave tectonic plates – and how even life began.
Mark Reagan with the University of Iowa said, “What was going on the path of the earth is a sample, which is really valuable.”
Jonathan O’Neel / AP 
Inute community wants steps to avoid exploitation of rocks
The rock formation is on the tribal inkwash land and the local Inute community has banned scientists from temporarily taking samples due to damage from previous visits.
After some geologists visited the site, large parts of the rock were missing and the community saw the pieces for online sale, Tommy Pallisar said, who manages the land with Pituvik Landholding Corp. Inute community wants to work with scientists to set up a provincial park that will protect the land by allowing researchers to study it.
Pallisar, a member of the community, said, “There is a lot of interest to these rocks, which we understand.” “We don’t want any more loss right now.”
