Where are the Oldest Rocks in the U.S.?

What’s the Oldest Rock in the USA? The Answer Might Surprise You! Join us on a journey to uncover America’s most ancient rocks! From the rugged peaks of Wyoming to the riverbanks of Minnesota and the domes of Michigan, we’ll explore rocks over 3.5 billion years old. Discover how tiny zircon crystals act as time capsules, revealing the fascinating history of our planet’s crust. Could the USA’s oldest rock be hiding in plain sight? Dive into the science of radiometric dating and uncover the mysteries of Earth’s deep past! Credits Writers: Dr. Carol Frost and Dr. Susan Swapp Writer/Producer: Dr. RJ Stern Presenter: Ali Sealander Video Editor: Zach Clowdus Basement Map Artwork: Clinton Crowley References Lund et al., 2015, Domain Map of the Conterminous United States and Alaska. USGS Data Series 898 Concordia diagram: Chemical Geology Volume 141, Issues 1-2, 29 August 1997, Pages 19-31 Bickford, M.E., Wooden, J.L., Bauer, R.L., 2006, SHRIMP study of zircons from Early Archean rocks in the Minnesota River Valley: Implications for the tectonic history of the Superior Province. GSA Bulletin, v. 118 (1-2): 94–108. Frost, C.D., Mueller, P.A., Mogk, D.W., Frost, B.R., and Henry, D.J., 2023, Creating continents: Archean cratons tell the story. GSA Today, v. 33 no. 1, p. 4-10, doi: 10.1130/GSATG541A.1 Frost, C. D., McLaughlin, J.F., Frost, B.R., Fanning, C.M., Swapp, S.M., Kruckenberg, S.C., Gonzalez, J., 2017, Hadean origins of Paleoarchean continental crust in the central Wyoming Province. GSA Bulletin, 129(3-4), 259-280. Mueller, P. A., Frost, C.D., Bickford, M.E., and Stern, R.J., in press. USA’s Oldest Rock? A Simple Question with a Complex Answer. GSA Today Additional Credits Music: “Formations” by Van Sandano (https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/W...) Title Video: Alex Moliski from pexels.com (https://www.pexels.com/video/a-lake-s...) Hawaii Eruption: USGS.gov https://www.usgs.gov/media/videos/kil... Kilbuck Mountains: Kristine Sowl, USFWS, YDNWR (https://www.flickr.com/photos/usfws_a...) Basement rock map based on Lund et al., (2015). Basement Domain Map of the Conterminous United States and Alasks, U.S. Geological Survey Data Series 898. Clinton Crowley 2023 Zircon Photo: Le Comptoir Geologique (https://www.le-comptoir-geologique.co...) Earth Photo: NASA (https://science.nasa.gov/image-detail...) Acasta Gneiss: This picture is a work by Emmanuel Douzery. (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...) Watersmeet Dome Picture 1: Paul Brandes (https://www.mindat.org/loc-125444.html) Watersmeet Dome Picture 2: James St. John via Flickr (https://www.flickr.com/photos/jsjgeol...) Please consider donating to the UT Dallas Geoscience Studio and Geonews Program: https://giving.utdallas.edu/gss Workflow for effective educational video making （PDF）: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/... #Geoscience #Geology #UTD #GSS #UTDGSS #Scicomm #Earth #Science #youtube