3.65-billion-year-old zircon found in New Zealand suggests its core rocks are 3 billion years old and supports Zealandia origins.
New Zealand's geological history may be significantly older than previously thought, according to research by Kiwi geologists Dr Chris Adams and Dr Ross Ramsay. They discovered zircon grains in sandstone near Tākaka dating back to over 3.65 billion years, suggesting New Zealand's core rocks are more than 3 billion years old, similar to Earth's other continents. The findings support the theory that New Zealand is part of the mostly submerged continent, Zealandia, dating back 3000 to 4000 million years.
March 16, 2024
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