Crystal age of 4, 4 billion years old - the oldest known piece of Earth

It will allow scientists to learn much about the history of our planety



On a rock in Western Australia found a small piece of zircon crystal, it is unique in that it 4, 4 billion years. And despite the fact that the crystal - microscopic, it helps scientists learn how the Earth became habitable.

By analyzing crystal geophysicists confirmed that the crust is formed, at least 4, 4 billion years ago, just 160 million years after the formation of the solar system.



Professor John Valley at the University of Wisconsin-Madison concluded that the Earth was not as harsh place as scientists previously thought: the temperature on Earth were low enough for the appearance of liquid water oceans and hydrosphere after the molten surface of the planet froze and turned to the earth bark.

The study confirms that the Earth's hydrosphere appeared at about 4, 3 billion years ago, and life could be slightly later. Moreover, scientists on the basis of the analysis found that the Earth is composed of different materials from all over the solar system. At a young age, our planet suffered a bombardment of meteorites and, among other things faced with an object the size of Mars, so there was a moon. However, this is only a theory.

via factroom.ru