Rocks on Earth are not found to be as old as 4.5 billion years due to geological processes such as weathering, erosion, and plate tectonics, which continuously recycle the Earth's crust. Over billions of years, rocks can break down into sand, dirt, or dust, or they may melt and be transformed into other rock types. In contrast, Mars has a relatively inactive geological history, resulting in a surface that has remained largely unchanged for millions of years, with most rocks dating back at least 3 million years. This stability allows for the preservation of older rock formations on Mars compared to Earth.