Using lasers, scientists have identified a fragment of the Earth’s crust beneath the surface of Southwest Australia. The findings are estimated at 3.8-4 billion years. For comparison, our planet is approximately 4.6 billion years old.
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The discovered fragment is approx. 100 thousand. square km, co it is roughly the size of Bulgaria and 1/3 of the area of Poland. According to the scientists, the find may provide us with clues about the circumstances in which the Earth became inhabited. Experts also say that the huge area of the crust had a big impact on rock formation as older materials mixed with new ones.
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Important geological discovery
When comparing our findings with existing data, it appears that many regions around the world experienced a similar timing for the formation and preservation of the early crust – says d lead author Maximilian Dröellner from Curtin University, Australia.
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This suggests a significant change in the evolution of the Earth about 4 billion years ago, when meteor bombardment ceased, the crust stabilized, and life on Earth began to form – he adds.
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As part of the study, specialists collected samples from rivers and beaches, and then used lasers to vaporize the zircon grains. The isotopes contained in the zircons allow the age of the grains to be dated, thanks to which it was possible to estimate how many years a fragment of the crust could be. Scientists say the results of the study could help understand how other planets form, how their early crusts are formed, and even how an alien form of life could (or could) appear on them.
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Adam Gaafar, journalist for Wirtualna Polska
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