Is zircon the oldest mineral? Find out why zircon is important for scientifically dating rocks and how to learn a zircon gemstone's age.
9 Minute Read
Zircon is the oldest known mineral on Earth. The oldest surviving zircon crystals are approximately 4.404 billion years old. This means zircons were present on Earth even before life began. To put this in perspective: humans are much closer in time to dinosaurs than dinosaurs are to the oldest zircons.
The oldest zircon crystal samples were discovered as detrital minerals in metamorphosed sediments in the Jack Hills, Western Australia. (See Wilde et al., 2001). However, these zircons are considerably older than the rock in which they are found. The primary rock source for these crystals remains unknown.
Zircons have formed throughout the Earth’s history. They can occur in igneous and metamorphic rocks as well as sedimentary rocks like sandstones. As a result, mineralogists and petrologists can often determine the age of rocks by analyzing any zircons in them. For example, geologists have discovered rocks in the Acasta Gneiss Complex in northwestern Canada that contain native zircons. S. A. Bowring and I. S. Williams note that these tonalitic orthogneisses incorporate zircon grains that are approximately 4.002 billion,
…
When you join the IGS community, you get trusted diamond & gemstone information when you need it.
Zircon is the oldest known mineral on Earth. The oldest surviving zircon crystals are approximately 4.404 billion years old. This means zircons were present on Earth even before life began. To put this in perspective: humans are much closer in time to dinosaurs than dinosaurs are to the oldest zircons.
The oldest zircon crystal samples were discovered as detrital minerals in metamorphosed sediments in the Jack Hills, Western Australia. (See Wilde et al., 2001). However, these zircons are considerably older than the rock in which they are found. The primary rock source for these crystals remains unknown.
Zircons have formed throughout the Earth’s history. They can occur in igneous and metamorphic rocks as well as sedimentary rocks like sandstones. As a result, mineralogists and petrologists can often determine the age of rocks by analyzing any zircons in them. For example, geologists have discovered rocks in the Acasta Gneiss Complex in northwestern Canada that contain native zircons. that these tonalitic orthogneisses incorporate zircon grains that are approximately 4.002 billion,
…
Is zircon the oldest mineral? Find out why zircon is important for scientifically dating rocks and how to learn a zircon gemstone's age.
“I have never known or heard of an organization that offers so much for its members, and at such a low cost.”
— Ernest Roisch, Rainbow Rocks LTD
That's less than $0.01 per article. Get instant access to 1,700+ premium articles, courses, and gem pricing data.
