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Earth’s First Rocks | National Geographic


when the earth first forms

when the earth first forms four-and-a-half billion years ago it’s

four-and-a-half billion years ago it’s

four-and-a-half billion years ago it’s too hot to form with water but the

too hot to form with water but the

too hot to form with water but the planet has water now if it wasn’t

planet has water now if it wasn’t

planet has water now if it wasn’t delivered by comets then has it been

delivered by comets then has it been

delivered by comets then has it been here all along to find out where the

here all along to find out where the

here all along to find out where the water comes from professor Stephen

water comes from professor Stephen

water comes from professor Stephen lodges is looking for clues to when it

lodges is looking for clues to when it

lodges is looking for clues to when it first appears as a geologist he uncovers

first appears as a geologist he uncovers

first appears as a geologist he uncovers the planets past by looking at its rocks

the planets past by looking at its rocks

the planets past by looking at its rocks but the past has a big hole it’s called

but the past has a big hole it’s called

but the past has a big hole it’s called the Hadean or dark period because nobody

the Hadean or dark period because nobody

the Hadean or dark period because nobody knows anything about it the problem of

knows anything about it the problem of

knows anything about it the problem of the first 500 million years of Earth

the first 500 million years of Earth

the first 500 million years of Earth history for geologists has always been

history for geologists has always been

history for geologists has always been that you have a nightmare scenario where

that you have a nightmare scenario where

that you have a nightmare scenario where you don’t have any rocks or minerals to

you don’t have any rocks or minerals to

you don’t have any rocks or minerals to investigate it’s thought early Earth is

investigate it’s thought early Earth is

investigate it’s thought early Earth is a fireball of molten rock but with no

a fireball of molten rock but with no

a fireball of molten rock but with no evidence from this time it’s just a

evidence from this time it’s just a

evidence from this time it’s just a theory

theory

theory then in 2002 Moises makes an

then in 2002 Moises makes an

then in 2002 Moises makes an earth-shaking discovery the oldest

earth-shaking discovery the oldest

earth-shaking discovery the oldest mineral sample ever found on our planet

mineral sample ever found on our planet

mineral sample ever found on our planet a crystal of zircon

a crystal of zircon

a crystal of zircon [Music]

[Music]

[Music] locked inside these tiny grains is a

locked inside these tiny grains is a

locked inside these tiny grains is a vital clue chemical analysis of zircon

vital clue chemical analysis of zircon

vital clue chemical analysis of zircon crystals reveals whether they formed in

crystals reveals whether they formed in

crystals reveals whether they formed in the presence of water over seven years

the presence of water over seven years

the presence of water over seven years moisés finds and dates nearly 100

moisés finds and dates nearly 100

moisés finds and dates nearly 100 thousand crystals of zircon one stands

thousand crystals of zircon one stands

thousand crystals of zircon one stands alone

alone

alone the oldest one that we’ve found so far

the oldest one that we’ve found so far

the oldest one that we’ve found so far is four point three eight billion years

is four point three eight billion years

is four point three eight billion years old now I I’d like that to sink in when

old now I I’d like that to sink in when

old now I I’d like that to sink in when this crystal was made the earth was just

this crystal was made the earth was just

this crystal was made the earth was just 180 million years old if this line

180 million years old if this line

180 million years old if this line represents the age of the earth then the

represents the age of the earth then the

represents the age of the earth then the dinosaurs died out here

dinosaurs died out here

dinosaurs died out here rewind about four billion years to the

rewind about four billion years to the

rewind about four billion years to the end of the dark period

end of the dark period

end of the dark period the zircon crystal was formed here we’re

the zircon crystal was formed here we’re

the zircon crystal was formed here we’re talking about time spans that are beyond

talking about time spans that are beyond

talking about time spans that are beyond comprehension for instance in this rock

comprehension for instance in this rock

comprehension for instance in this rock here there are zircon crystals that are

here there are zircon crystals that are

here there are zircon crystals that are one third of the age of the universe

these things have been around for almost

these things have been around for almost as long as the earth has been a planet

as long as the earth has been a planet

as long as the earth has been a planet talk about time capsules analysis shows

talk about time capsules analysis shows

talk about time capsules analysis shows this 4.4 billion year old zircon crystal

this 4.4 billion year old zircon crystal

this 4.4 billion year old zircon crystal forms in liquid water rather than a dry

forms in liquid water rather than a dry

forms in liquid water rather than a dry planet the crystal reveals that early

planet the crystal reveals that early

planet the crystal reveals that early Earth already has water on its surface

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