Beartooth Quarzite Zircons Montana [~3.96 Ga]

Beartooth Quartzite Zircons 3.96 Ga Montana

The Beartooth Quartzite is a significant geological specimen from the Beartooth Mountains, spanning Montana and Wyoming. This rock unit features quartzite with interbedded shale layers and a thin conglomerate base containing black and white quartzite embedded in fine, glassy quartz grains. Notably, this quartzite contains zircons that are nearly 4 billion years old and comparable in age to the Idiwhaa Acasta Gneiss Complex and the Assean Lake Complex.

Key Features

• Historical Significance:  The Beartooth Quartzite offers a glimpse into Earth’s ancient history, with zircons dating back almost 4 billion years.
• Geological Importance: This rock unit is part of the Wyoming Craton, an ancient and stable continental core uplifted during the Laramide Orogeny.
• Unique Composition: Includes banded migmatite, granitic gneisses, amphibolite, biotite schist, iron-silicate rocks, ultramafic rocks, mafic dikes, and felsic porphyries.

Geological Context

This material is sourced from the Beartooth Mountains, which stretch about 75 miles in length and 45 miles in width, with 26 peaks exceeding 12,000 feet in elevation.

Formation

The Beartooth Quartzite formed during the early Archean, with zircons genetically linked to the Western Slave Province Idiwhaa Acasta Gneiss Complex and the Assean Lake Complex.

Specifications

• Size: 86mm L x 55mm W x 8mm D
• Appearance: Lightly sprayed with water for photography, no repairs. Photos show the front and back with a sizing cube and description tag.

Included with Purchase

• Certificate of Authenticity
• Tag and Tag Stand
• Information about the Specimen; display stand and photo cube not included.

Exceptional Educational Value

This specimen is an excellent resource for understanding the history, evolution, and linked geological complexes of Earth’s oldest rocks.

Rare Zircon Rock to Add to Your Collection

Enhance your collection with this fascinating rock specimen, providing a tangible connection to Earth’s ancient geological history.