Chemical signatures recently found in rock formations are providing critical insight for understanding the formation of Earth, according to scientists.



An international research team analyzed kimberlites—a type of rock formed by cooling magma that sometimes carries diamonds—from around the world, including many from Canada.



“We found that kimberlites’ chemical signatures are remarkably uniform and very like the building blocks thought to have formed the Earth 4.55 billion years ago,” said University of Alberta geochemist Graham Pearson, who was a co-author of the study.



“We think this is the cleanest signal of this primordial signature found in any group of rocks on Earth.”

Continue reading at University of Alberta.

Image via John Ulan.