Oldest material found on Earth?

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SUMMARY

The Murchison meteorite, which fell in Australia in 1969, has been identified as containing the oldest material found on Earth, including presolar grains that predate the solar system by billions of years. Recent studies published in Live Science and PNAS highlight the significance of these findings in understanding planetary formation and interstellar chemistry. The chemistry and isotope composition of these grains provide crucial insights into the source material for the gas molecular cloud (GMC) from which the solar system formed. This discovery emphasizes the ongoing relevance of the Murchison meteorite in contemporary scientific research.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of presolar grains and their significance in astrophysics
  • Familiarity with meteorite classification and history, particularly the Murchison meteorite
  • Knowledge of isotope composition analysis in geological samples
  • Basic comprehension of planetary formation theories and gas molecular clouds (GMC)
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the chemical analysis techniques used for presolar grains
  • Study the implications of the Murchison meteorite on theories of planetary formation
  • Explore the paper "Production of Mo and Ru Isotopes in Neutrino-driven Winds" for insights into nucleosynthesis
  • Investigate other significant meteorites and their contributions to our understanding of early solar system materials
USEFUL FOR

Astronomers, planetary scientists, and geology enthusiasts interested in the origins of the solar system and the significance of meteorites in understanding cosmic history.

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Oldest material found on earth?


This popped up in live science


https://www.livescience.com/oldest-material-on-earth.html


This on PNAS


https://www.pnas.org/content/early/2020/01/07/1904573117


Murchison meteorite fell 1969 in Australia.

As well as interesting organics such as bases and amino acids previously found, scientists now claim to have found pre solar grains, billions of years older than the solar system.
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Earth sciences news on Phys.org
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jim mcnamara said:
@davenn may know more
Thanks Jim
Ive just posted to him, he collects meteors from memory!
 
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pinball1970 said:
Summary:: Oldest material found on earth?This popped up in live sciencehttps://www.livescience.com/oldest-material-on-earth.htmlThis on PNAShttps://www.pnas.org/content/early/2020/01/07/1904573117Murchison meteorite fell 1969 in Australia.

As well as interesting organics such as bases and amino acids previously found, scientists now claim to have found pre solar grains, billions of years older than the solar system.

Oldest material found on earth?
This popped up in live science
https://www.livescience.com/oldest-material-on-earth.html
This on PNAS
https://www.pnas.org/content/early/2020/01/07/1904573117
Any discussions here? Nothing on Murchison.
I'm not quite sure what you are asking. We have known of the existence of inclusions within meteorites that avoided melting (and "clock resetting") for two or three decades. All of these are, necessarily, older than the 4.57 billion year age of the solar system. This Murchison example is the oldest yet discovered.

The chemistry of the grains and especially the isotope composition should give clues into the source of material for the GMC from which the solar system formed.

I find it intriguing that a meteorite that fell to Earth half a century ago is still capable of providing new insights into planetary formation and interstellar chemistry.
 
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Ophiolite said:
I'm not quite sure what you are asking. We have known of the existence of inclusions within meteorites that avoided melting (and "clock resetting") for two or three decades. All of these are, necessarily, older than the 4.57 billion year age of the solar system. This Murchison example is the oldest yet discovered.

The chemistry of the grains and especially the isotope composition should give clues into the source of material for the GMC from which the solar system formed.

I find it intriguing that a meteorite that fell to Earth half a century ago is still capable of providing new insights into planetary formation and interstellar chemistry.
I was amazed when I read material that predated the sun by several billion years had been identified.
I have read about the Murchison from an organics pov but was not aware of material that ancient.
 
pinball1970 said:
Oldest material found on earth?
This popped up in live science
https://www.livescience.com/oldest-material-on-earth.html
This on PNAS
https://www.pnas.org/content/early/2020/01/07/1904573117
Any discussions here? Nothing on Murchison.

Thanks for that, I'm aware of this meteorite, pretty sure I don't have a sample of that one yet.
But I was unaware of the deeper details of this meteorite ...
very informative, specially that second article.

You may now start to see my fascination with meteorites, holding something that has zoomed through space for billions of years
and finally to land on Earth and to be able to hold it. It's very cool :smile:Dave
 
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davenn said:
You may now start to see my fascination with meteorites, holding something that has zoomed through space for billions of years
and finally to land on Earth and to be able to hold it. It's very cool :smile:
Not the outer surface when it first landed. :wink:

Meanwhile, back on track: I've been trying to find a good general review paper on solar grains, thus far without success. This one, Presolar silicate grains: Abundances, isotopic and elemental compositions, and the effects of secondary processing, is the best I can come up with so far. It is thorough in addressing the topics of the title, but has, appropriately, almost nothing to say about the insights into nucleosynthesis that presolar grains present. That is an aspect I had not properly appreciated till sent trawling in Google Scholar by the OP. This paper, Production of Mo and Ru Isotopes in Neutrino-driven Winds: Implications for Solar Abundances and Presolar Grains, is the sort of example I had in mind.
 
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davenn said:
You may now start to see my fascination with meteorites, holding something that has zoomed through space for billions of years
and finally to land on Earth and to be able to hold it. It's very cool :smile:

Dave
Sure is. Of course that’s true of terrestrial rocks as well!
 
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Ophiolite said:
Not the outer surface when it first landed. :wink:
Surprisingly, they are quite cool almost cold by the time they hit the ground ( that's from those that have seen and found meteorites from falls)
chemisttree said:
Sure is. Of course that’s true of terrestrial rocks as well!

True, but space rocks from the Moon, Mars and asteroids is just another whole level :wink: Dave
 
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