Quebec Rocks Confirmed as Earth’s Oldest

Scientists have confirmed that rocks from the Nuvvuagittuq Greenstone Belt in northern Quebec, Canada, are the oldest known on Earth, dating back 4.16 billion years to the Hadean eon. Published in Science, the research used two radiometric dating methods that yielded consistent results and resolved longstanding debates about the rocks’ age. The findings suggest that some sections of the Nuvvuagittuq Belt may be as old as 4.3 billion years, pushing the limits of Earth's preserved geological record. These metamorphosed basaltic rocks survived early Earth's intense geological activity and provide insight into the planet's first crust, early oceans, and environments where life could have emerged. The research also draws comparisons to the 3.7-billion-year-old stromatolite fossils discovered in Greenland, which are the oldest known evidence of life. Together, these discoveries offer unprecedented insight into Earth's earliest epochs.