<P> The oldest material of terrestrial origin that has been dated is a zircon mineral of 4.404 ± 0.008 Ga enclosed in a metamorphosed sandstone conglomerate in the Jack Hills of the Narryer Gneiss Terrane of Western Australia . The 4.404 ± 0.008 Ga zircon is a slight outlier , with the oldest consistently - dated zircon falling closer to 4.35 Ga . This zircon is part of a population of zircons within the metamorphosed conglomerate , which is believed to have been deposited about 3.060 Ga , which is the age of the youngest detrital zircon in the rock . Recent developments in atom - probe tomography have led to a further constraint on the age of the oldest continental zircon , with the most recent age quoted as 4.374 Ga ± 0.006 . </P>
<P> The oldest material of terrestrial origin that has been dated is a zircon mineral of 4.404 ± 0.008 Ga enclosed in a metamorphosed sandstone conglomerate in the Jack Hills of the Narryer Gneiss Terrane of Western Australia . The 4.404 ± 0.008 Ga zircon is a slight outlier , with the oldest consistently - dated zircon falling closer to 4.35 Ga . This zircon is part of a population of zircons within the metamorphosed conglomerate , which is believed to have been deposited about 3.060 Ga , which is the age of the youngest detrital zircon in the rock . Recent developments in atom - probe tomography have led to a further constraint on the age of the oldest continental zircon , with the most recent age quoted as 4.374 Ga ± 0.006 . </P>
what mineral in 4 ga sandstones was dated to determine the age of the earth
what mineral in 4 ga sandstones was dated to determine the age of the earth
zircon
zircon