Absolute Dating: Introduction
The Oldest Rocks on Earth
Near the Hudson Bay in Quebec, Canada, are rocks thought to be the oldest on Earth. They are dated as being about 4.2 billion years old. It is unusual for rocks this old to still be found on Earth because tectonic forces, weathering, and erosion constantly grind, move, wear down, and rearrange rocks on Earth. But the rocks found in this area of Quebec are remarkably preserved from the very earliest days of Earth’s history. They are invaluable tools for studying Earth’s ancient characteristics.
You now that relative dating cannot be used to assign specific numerical ages to things. How then do scientists know a specific age for the rocks in the mountains of Quebec? In this section, you will learn about the methods scientists use to answer this question.
