It gives us a little perspective in environmental issues: Hebrew University researchers have determined that a patch of land in Israel’s Negev Desert is the oldest piece of exposed land on earth.
Because of weather events, volcanic activity and long term effects of tectonic activity, the face of the earth is constantly changing. But not on this patch of land in Israel.
According to scientists the ancient patch of “desert pavement” has been sitting there, as it is today, for the past 1.8 million years, give or take a few thousand.
Four times older than the desert pavement in Nevada, I can just imagine all the kings and biblical heros from the time, and before who have walked the land. I wonder if the land there carries records that can be used for deepening our knowledge about climate change?
In regions that are extremely flat and dry, where tectonic activity is low and rocks are resistant to weathering, the surface can be preserved for millions of years, Ari Matmon, researcher in the study said: “This is something we were not sure about until now.”
“The surface we dated most likely represents large areas in the Sahara and Arabia Deserts,” Matmon said. “We hope to be able to collect samples from other locations in the Sahara and Arabia Deserts and establish the global extent of these old surfaces.”
Author: Karin Kloosterman
Karin Kloosterman is an award-winning journalist and publisher that founded Green Prophet to unite a prosperous Middle East. She shows through her work that positive, inspiring dialogue creates action that impacts people, business and planet. She has published in thought-leading newspapers and magazines globally, owns an IoT tech chip patent, and is part of teams that build world-changing products to make agriculture and our planet more sustainable. Reach out directly to [email protected]
I live in Edmonton Alberta Canada , and I am noticing a lot of cracks in the ground in different places in Edmonton..
I live in Edmonton Alberta Canada , and I am noticing a lot of cracks in the ground in different places in Edmonton..
In East India an area called Ráŕh is the oldest part of ancient Gondwanaland that has remained above the sea for at least 300 million years.
source: P. R.Sarkar “Rahr – The Cradle of Civilization”