Ancient mineral shows early Earth climate tough on continents

User rating: 4.7 / 5 after 29 vote(s)

Pictured is a false-color microscope image of a 4-billion-year-old zircon a tiny mineral used to study the ancient rocks in which it formed. Chemical analysis of this crystal by UW-Madison geologists Takayuki Ushikubo and John Valley suggests that ro ...
Pictured is a false-color microscope image of a 4-billion-year-old zircon, a tiny mineral used to study the ancient rocks in which it formed. Chemical analysis of this crystal by UW-Madison geologists Takayuki Ushikubo and John Valley suggests that rocky continents and liquid water existed on Earth at least 4.3 billion years ago. Evidence of heavy weathering by a harsh climate may help explain why no rock samples older than 4 billion years have ever been found. Photo courtesy Mary Diman and John Valley
A new analysis of ancient minerals called zircons suggests that a harsh climate may have scoured and possibly even destroyed the surface of the Earth's earliest continents.


Full story »
All News summaries from Space & Earth science news
All News summaries for June 13, 2008

US game designer blasts into space with DNA cargo

Oct 12, 2008 | User rating: not rated yet
(AP) -- An American computer game designer reached space Sunday, fulfilling a long-deferred childhood dream that began with the flight of his astronaut father.

Economic woes chill effort to stop global warming

Oct 12, 2008 | User rating: not rated yet
(AP) -- Attempts to tackle global warming are being made more difficult by the spreading economic crisis even as Democratic congressional leaders say it's still a top goal for next year.

India's unmanned lunar mission ready for launch

Oct 12, 2008 | User rating: not rated yet
India is making final preparations for its first mission to the moon, officials said over the weekend.

US space tourist hopes to recoup 30 million-dollar ticket

Oct 11, 2008 | User rating: not rated yet
Richard Garriott, who is set to become the first American to follow his astronaut father into space on Sunday, hopes to be able to recoup the 30 million dollars he paid for the experience.

Russian space chief reassures US partners

Oct 11, 2008 | User rating: not rated yet
(AP) -- The ongoing global economic turmoil and increasingly strained ties between Moscow and Washington will not stand in the way of further space exploration, Russia's space agency chief said Saturday.
Goto Archive PhysOrg Forum Goto Archive Video Goto Archive Editorials Goto Archive Free Magazines Goto Archive Newsletter

News Archive