Geological age of planets: scientists reveal secrets of its determination
Recent advances in geochronology, or rock dating, allow geologists to measure radioactive decay and assign very precise absolute ages to geological events. In another study, scientists found isotopic evidence of a sudden switch to primitive plate tectonics dating back about 3.8 billion years. The discovery suggests that a simple form of subduction had begun at least in one place on the planet by that time. And a tree-lined African lake has provided data on the Earth’s magnetic field for the past 150,000 years.
Earth’s plate tectonics began earlier than 4 billion years ago
New research suggests that plate tectonics began earlier than 4 billion years ago — shortly after Earth formed. New research suggests that plate tectonics, which causes earthquakes, mountain formation and the separation of continents, may have begun when Earth was just forming — much earlier than many scientists thought.