Researchers say they might have discovered the oldest rocks on Earth. The rocks in question are a belt of swirly, stripe-covered rocks found in the northeastern reaches of Canada. These rocks appear ...

The gold standard for determining the age of ancient rocks is measuring the radioactive decay of isotopes of uranium into lead in minerals known as zircons. But not all rocks contain zircons, so ...

In 2008 scientists reported that rocks in Canada were the world’s oldest. New data appear to confirm this contested claim ...

Researchers mapped a pulsing mantle plume under Afar that channels molten rock upward, stretching Africa’s crust until it cracks and an ocean basin begins.