Traces of 'primitive Earth' discovered

For the first time, scientists from MIT have found chemical traces of “proto-Earth,” the ancient precursor to our planet, which existed more than 4.5 billion years ago.

Findings published on October 14 in the journal Nature Geoscience reveal that rare isotopic signatures buried deep in Earth’s oldest rocks may have survived the catastrophic collision that formed modern Earth. The discovery provides a missing piece in understanding how early planetary materials evolved into the world we know today.

MIT researchers found traces of potassium isotopes, revealing remnants of the "primitive Earth" inside ancient rocks. (Source: Pixabay)

As Science Daily reports, the researchers analyzed ancient rock samples from Greenland, Canada, and volcanic deposits in Hawaii—some of the deepest materials originating from Earth's mantle.

The team, led by MIT's Nicole Nie, found an unusual chemical signature in the potassium isotopes. This slight deficiency of potassium-40, unlike what is typically found in modern rocks, suggests remnants of pre-impact material from Earth's earliest formation.

The discovery challenges the long-held theory that a massive impact with a Mars-sized body wiped out Earth’s original chemistry. Instead, it appears that some ancient material survived the chaos of the giant impact and survived the billions of years of geological activity.

Additional modeling and simulations reinforced the hypothesis that the potassium-40 deficiency is a relic from pre-Earth times. The researchers also concluded that current meteorite samples do not fully capture the building blocks of our planet.

The results open up a new perspective on Earth's formation, suggesting that deep within the planet lies evidence of a lost world that existed before Earth as we know it.

Mr. Quang

Source: https://vtcnews.vn/phat-hien-dau-vet-cua-trai-dat-nguyen-thuy-ar972237.html