Isua Greenstone Belt Banded Iron [678 gm ~ 3.7 Ga]

Discover Earth's Oldest Plate Tectonic Sequences

This fantastic, large specimen hails from the Isua Greenstone Banded Iron Formation, renowned for housing Earth's oldest and best-preserved ancient plate tectonic sequences. Within this captivating region lie pockets of untouched rock formations, offering fascinating insights into the early days of our planet. This material also contains the earliest evidence of Earth's magnetic field in rocks.

Ancient Geological Treasure

Dating back approximately 3.7 billion years, the Isua Greenstone Belt is a treasure trove of metamorphosed volcanic and sedimentary rocks. In a groundbreaking discovery in 2016, scientists found potential evidence of life in the form of small carbon blobs with carbon isotopic compositions akin to living materials. However, this remains a topic of debate.

The Biogenic vs. Abiogenic Debate

Skepticism arises as some features can also be explained by geological processes and deformation. The thin line between the biogenic and abiogenic world presents a challenge. Nonetheless, the evolution of life in a Hadean environment continues to captivate researchers, pushing the boundaries of our understanding of evolutionary mechanisms, pathways, and chemical processes.

Specimen Details

• Size: 106mm L x 70mm W x 44mm D
• Weight: 677.86 grams
• Legally Obtained: Yes

Packaging and Shipping

This specimen ships in a perky protective case with a tag, tag stand, and Certificate of Authenticity. Please note that the acrylic stand and photographic cube are not included.

Enhance Your Geological Collection

This fantastic, large geological specimen from Southwest Greenland would make any geological collection outstanding!

This scientific material is Guaranteed Authentic. It was professionally and legally collected and arrives with a Certificate of Authenticity, tag, tag stand and information about the Isua Greenstone Belt.