4.4 Billion Year Old Piece of Earth's Crust

[Still Waters]

Ever heard this life advice? When solving a big problem seems impossible, break it into smaller steps.

Well, scientists just took one of geology's biggest controversies and shrunk it down to atomic size. By zapping single atoms of lead in a tiny zircon crystal from Australia, researchers have confirmed the crystal is the oldest rock fragment ever found on Earth 4.375 billion years old, plus or minus 6 million years.

http://www.foxnews.c...lion-years-old/

[Wickian]

Well that pretty much proves there was liquid water 4.3 billion years ago.

[Dark_Grey]

Yes, but unless you were there to see the rocks form, you can't know how old they are.

- Ken Ham

[qxcontinuum]

Bullocks, the dating methods we are using are inaccurate. There is no way to tell how old it truly is.

[Imaginarynumber1]

Bullocks, the dating methods we are using are inaccurate. There is no way to tell how old it truly is.

They're actually not inaccurate. That's why we use them.

[ineffectiveArtist]

Regardless, if that image is the same type of rock, it's beautiful. Just goes to show that with age, there's beauty.

[Calibeliever]

Bullocks, the dating methods we are using are inaccurate. There is no way to tell how old it truly is.

Please explain?

[paperdyer]

This article says a collision. A while ago an article here theorized the Earth stole the Moon from Venus. I feel like Vinnie Barbarino "I'm so confused!"

[dummy2b]

You are not alone.Ever Tom Dick and Harry that says they know what happen a billion years ago are confused too.

[watoom]

Yes, but unless you were there to see the rocks form, you can't know how old they are.

- Ken Ham

Ken Ham is an embarrassment to Australia

[seaturtlehorsesnake]

Bullocks, the dating methods we are using are inaccurate. There is no way to tell how old it truly is.

if every geologist in the world slammed their head into a desk upon seeing this post, it would cause a minor seismic event. fact.

[psyche101]

Ken Ham is an embarrassment to Australia

And that is being very kind.

[Codenwarra]

I've seen the instruments used for this, in the basement at Geoscience Australia in Canberra. There are several around the world.

http://www.ga.gov.au/about-us/our-facilities/laboratories/geochronology-facilities.html

Zircons dated in 2000 or 2001.

http://www.geology.wisc.edu/zircon/Wilde2001Nature.pdf