A groundbreaking discovery in northern Quebec has confirmed the existence of Earth's oldest known rocks, dating back 4.16 billion years. These ancient rocks offer a rare glimpse into the Hadean eon, a period of intense volcanic activity and Earth's chaotic beginnings.

Scientists agreed the rocky outcrops in a remote part of Quebec, Canada, were ancient. But were they really Earth’s oldest? New research suggests they are.

Gray rocks uncovered in northern Nunavik, Quebec, Canada may be the ultimate primordial find. The stones date back 4.16 billion years to the Hadean era and are the oldest known rocks on the planet. They are described in a study published June 26 in the journal Science .