By directing lasers thinner than a human hair at the smallest grains of mineral extracted from the beach
To study individual grains of the mineral zircon, geologists used lasers. As a result, scientists found out their origin, as well as the geological structure and history of the region.
"There is evidence that a piece of barkup to four billion years old, the size of Ireland has influenced the geological evolution of Western Australia over the last few billion years. It is a key component of the rocks formed in the region during this time,” explains Maximilian Droellner, lead author of the new study.
A piece of bark has survived numerous mountain formationsbetween Australia, India and Antarctica and appeared at the birth of the planet. Scientists believe it still exists tens of kilometers below the southwest corner of Western Australia. As the authors of the new work note, it survived the evolution of the Earth and can tell a lot about it in the course of new research.
In addition, recognition of the ancient remains of the earthcrust is important for future optimized sustainable resource exploration. The study of the early Earth is of great importance for understanding the meaning of life on the planet and the desire of people to find it in the Universe.
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