FARK.com: (7531462) Oldest rock ever found a treasure trove of history. No, not the stuff in your dad's 8-track collection

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		Oldest rock ever found a treasure trove of history. No, not the stuff in your dad's 8-track collection (npr.org)		26
		More: Cool, oldest rocks, field guides, surface waters, thermometers, Carl Zimmer, history, collections

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2933 clicks; posted to Geek » on 12 Jan 2013 at 5:13 AM | Favorite | share:

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RedPhoenix122		2013-01-12 12:24:48 AM

My dad still has an 8-track collection and player.

Well played, subby.

Lsherm		2013-01-12 12:59:20 AM

Rocks that crystallize at these temperatures have been exposed to water. This is something geologists know. Says Professor Watson:

"Any rock heated in the presence of water - any rock, at any time, in any circumstance - will begin to melt at between 650 and 700 degrees. This is the only terrestrial process that occurs so predictably."

So, all of a sudden, here was evidence that the red hot, lava-laced, boiling, lifeless Earth of 4.4 billion years ago had water on it!What's more, Watson says, "we feel our results point more strongly toward the idea of surface water."

Wasn't the surface pressure of the atmosphere comparatively high back then? Is is possible the crystal was formed in a high pressure ground-level cloud, especially if water vapor was heavier than the gas sitting on top of it?

Revek		2013-01-12 01:41:53 AM

Ah the eight track where I first heard the tale of brewster the rooster.

RodneyToady		2013-01-12 02:06:31 AM

Was it Freedom Rock? Well, turn it up, man!

puffy999		2013-01-12 04:18:03 AM

Lsherm: Wasn't the surface pressure of the atmosphere comparatively high back then? Is is possible the crystal was formed in a high pressure ground-level cloud, especially if water vapor was heavier than the gas sitting on top of it?

I have no idea and may be reading too much into what they are trying to say, but I would assume they would have accounted for pressure and a gaseous state of H2O, given that the sentence implies this phenomenon takes place regardless of pressure of liquid water. So whether it be underground, underwater, or near the surface, as long as it is liquid the rock should behave the same.

And if the air could be humidified so much, that's still something compared to our previous guesswork of the early Earth. It would basically imply rain or consistent heated steam, which in and of itself could help stir things up.

FirstNationalBastard		2013-01-12 04:37:18 AM

It's from K-Tel, isn't it?

ThisIsntMe		2013-01-12 05:24:29 AM

Papa was a rolling stone, (my son)
Where ever he laid his hat was his home
and when he died, all he left us was alone

ThisIsntMe		2013-01-12 05:25:07 AM

Lsherm: Rocks that crystallize at these temperatures have been exposed to water. This is something geologists know. Says Professor Watson:

"Any rock heated in the presence of water - any rock, at any time, in any circumstance - will begin to melt at between 650 and 700 degrees. This is the only terrestrial process that occurs so predictably."

So, all of a sudden, here was evidence that the red hot, lava-laced, boiling, lifeless Earth of 4.4 billion years ago had water on it!What's more, Watson says, "we feel our results point more strongly toward the idea of surface water."

Wasn't the surface pressure of the atmosphere comparatively high back then? Is is possible the crystal was formed in a high pressure ground-level cloud, especially if water vapor was heavier than the gas sitting on top of it?

Maybe?

Devolving_Spud		2013-01-12 06:20:17 AM

FirstNationalBastard: It's from K-Tel, isn't it?

Sung by the "Original Artists"!

Ooba Tooba		2013-01-12 07:29:55 AM

So where did this rock find a treasure trove?

KrispyKritter		2013-01-12 07:37:12 AM

scientists/theories make me smile. it's just a matter of time before someone reveals how horribly wrong they are about their dating methods, then all you turkeys will believe their next load of crap until that's proven faulty. silly rabbits, tricks are for kids.

/ scientists are only humans. stupid, ugly humans

DerAppie		2013-01-12 08:07:37 AM

KrispyKritter: scientists/theories make me smile. it's just a matter of time before someone reveals how horribly wrong they are about their dating methods, then all you turkeys will believe their next load of crap until that's proven faulty. silly rabbits, tricks are for kids.

/ scientists are only humans. stupid, ugly humans

Any dating method which gets you a date is a correct dating method.

/Roofied people are victims, not dates.

ZAZ		2013-01-12 09:00:25 AM

680 C is well over the critical point of water. This rock was not in any ocean.

dennysgod		2013-01-12 09:53:28 AM

ZAZ: 680 C is well over the critical point of water. This rock was not in any ocean.

Because lava never erupts under water. But the process they were eluding too is probably flux melting, happens all the time in subduction zones when water is dragged into the mantle and alters the melting point of the surround rocks..

PC LOAD LETTER		2013-01-12 10:52:05 AM

Lsherm: Wasn't the surface pressure of the atmosphere comparatively high back then?

There's some research that indicates yes, and some that indicates no. Quite a bit of "unsettled" science, there, actually.

theorellior		2013-01-12 11:00:22 AM

Interesting article, bullshiat writing style. Please, dude, leave the snark to the professionals.

WelldeadLink		2013-01-12 11:36:01 AM

ZAZ: 680 C is well over the critical point of water. This rock was not in any ocean.

There is water in molten rock. There's been water in the Earth's mantle since its formation.
Link

KawaiiNot		2013-01-12 12:41:17 PM

Interesting

SevenizGud		2013-01-12 01:57:59 PM

Titanium thermometer:

I love how these "scientists" pretend that titanium inclusion is dependent on the lone variable of temperature, and completely ignore the variable of, you know, local titanium concentration. So if there is ZERO titanium around it, then it will farking MIRACLE up some titanium to include, because, FSM dammit, it's all about the temperature dontchaknow?

Stupid people saying stupid things. It just shows that a little knowledge can be a dangerous thing.

/science, it just works, biatches

StopLurkListen		2013-01-12 02:37:57 PM

Thanks for the link, submitter!

AcneVulgaris		2013-01-12 03:58:07 PM

Hey man, is that freedom rock? Turn it up!

my_cats_breath_smells_like_cat_food		2013-01-12 04:26:44 PM

Oldest terrestiral rock. The one fromm the meteorite thread yesterday was older than the sun...soooo...yeah

r1chard3		2013-01-13 01:40:10 AM

Ishkur		2013-01-13 04:32:13 AM

I don't understand why it would come as any shock to anyone that life is here not from some cosmic fluke but because of the preferential properties of the Universe. We are a product of the same forces and physical behaviors that created everything else. Our existence is no more special or more of a fluke than planets becoming round or stars exploding or crystal lattice formation.

Like everything else in the Universe, life exists because it's impossible for it not to exist.

vicejay		2013-01-13 11:46:57 AM

I have a friend with an 8-track player in his jeep. He keeps his wallet in it.

common sense is an oxymoron		2013-01-13 05:35:36 PM

SevenizGud: Titanium thermometer:

I love how these "scientists" pretend that titanium inclusion is dependent on the lone variable of temperature, and completely ignore the variable of, you know, local titanium concentration. So if there is ZERO titanium around it, then it will farking MIRACLE up some titanium to include, because, FSM dammit, it's all about the temperature dontchaknow?

Stupid people saying stupid things. It just shows that a little knowledge can be a dangerous thing.

/science, it just works, biatches

Titanium is ubiquitous both on Earth and in space. Google is your friend.

Why do you hate science so much?

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