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News Release 08-165

Oldest Known Rock on Earth Discovered

Bedrock in Canada is 4.28 billion years old

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Photo of bedrock along the coast of Hudson Bay, Canada, which has the oldest rock on Earth.

Bedrock along the northeast coast of Hudson Bay, Canada, has the oldest rock on Earth.

Credit: Jonathan O'Neil


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Photo of Earth's oldest known rock, which contains abundant garnet, seen as large round spots.

Earth's oldest known rock is composed of the mineral amphibole, which contains abundant garnet, seen as large round "spots" in the rock.

Credit: Jonathan O'Neil


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Cover of Sept. 26, 2008, Science magazine.

The findings are published in this week's issue of Science magazine.

Credit: Copyright AAAS 2008


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