Geochemical and Geochronologic Studies of Earth's Oldest Crust

Carnegie Institution Of Washington, Washington DC

Investigators

Abstract

This project uses isotope geochemistry to determine the age and characteristics of basement rocks of the Nuvvuagittuq belt in Northern Quebec. These rocks may be up to 4.28 billion years old, making them amongst the oldest on earth. They have the potential to offer insight into processes of differentiation that occurred early in the earth?s history, such as the start of plate tectonics and determining whether the earth had a magma ocean. The broader impacts include training of a postdoctoral fellow in isotope geochemistry, and outreach to the general public and an indigenous Inuit community living in the field area.