Chunks of Earth’s original crust, dating back nearly four billion years, have been unearthed deep underground in Australia. These ancient rocks were found near Collie, south of Perth, adding to similar discoveries in the Murchison district of Western Australia.

This indicates that Australia’s ancient crust extends over a much larger area than previously known, with these discoveries located about 1,000 kilometers apart. Chris Kirkland, a geochronology professor at Curtin University, emphasized the significance of these findings for understanding the formation and evolution of continental crust on early Earth.

Earth’s crust: foundation of continents

The continental crust forms the essential bedrock of landmasses, supporting ecosystems and providing vital resources for human civilization, including freshwater. It is rich in valuable minerals like gold and iron, contributing significantly to economies.

However, exploring the ancient crust is challenging due to its deep burial or alteration by environmental processes, limiting direct observation to a few exposed areas. Planet Earth consists of three primary layers: the crust, mantle, and core.

Earth’s layers: crust, mantle, core

 Earth’s Shocking Secret: 3 Layers You Won’t Believe! The Earth’s crust is the outermost layer composed of solid rock, divided into two types: oceanic and continental.

Beneath the crust lies the mantle, a dense layer of solid rock rich in iron and magnesium, extending up to 2,900 kilometers in thickness.

At the Earth’s center is the core, consisting of a liquid outer core and a solid inner core. Temperatures in the core can reach as high as 50,000 degrees Celsius.