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Community => General Discussion => Topic started by: idolminds on Thursday, August 12, 2010, 10:42:41 AM

Title: Chunk of original earth found
Post by: idolminds on Thursday, August 12, 2010, 10:42:41 AM
Pocket of rock survived 4.5 billion years without being mixed by plate tectonics (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38661354/ns/technology_and_science-science/)

Quote
Imagine you suddenly discovered part of your umbilical cord was still attached. Scientists just did that for the planet Earth. What's been found is a clear sign that beneath the crust in northern Canada there is a chunk of pristine, undisturbed rock from the time when Earth was nothing but molten rock.

The evidence comes in the form of lava rocks that, themselves, are a mere 60 million years old. But these rocks contain an early Earth mixture of helium, lead and neodymium isotopes which suggest the mantle rock beneath the crust that yielded them is a virgin pocket of Earth's original material.
Title: Re: Chunk of original earth found
Post by: Cobra951 on Thursday, August 12, 2010, 11:18:37 AM
Geologists, rejoice.  Somebody tell Sy.
Title: Re: Chunk of original earth found
Post by: scottws on Thursday, August 12, 2010, 12:46:48 PM
OMG this is amazing news!  Oh wait, no it isn't.   :-[

Well, maybe sirean will be excited.
Title: Re: Chunk of original earth found
Post by: Pugnate on Thursday, August 12, 2010, 01:34:48 PM
As a guy who watches documentaries regularly, I do find this exciting.
Title: Re: Chunk of original earth found
Post by: Xessive on Thursday, August 12, 2010, 07:00:59 PM
I'd like to be the first guy to carve my name into that "undisturbed" rock.

I'm an ancient history buff and for some reason I'm, not that excited about this. I mean, it's nice to know there's a place on the planet that's untouched by humans, until now anyway, but it's like finding a dusty corner of your room that's been neglected for ages and the most common remark is "wow, look how much dust has piled up!"
Title: Re: Chunk of original earth found
Post by: angrykeebler on Thursday, August 12, 2010, 07:06:39 PM
There'll be a Macdonalds on top of there sooner or later
Title: Re: Chunk of original earth found
Post by: Quemaqua on Thursday, August 12, 2010, 08:02:46 PM
</thread>
Title: Re: Chunk of original earth found
Post by: Pugnate on Thursday, August 12, 2010, 10:24:11 PM
;D @ Keebs.