Where might we find the oldest rock on Earth?
Responses
the center of continents
the center of the ocean floor
the highest mountain on Earth
pushed under a tectonic plate
1 answer
The oldest rock on Earth is generally found in the center of continents. These rocks, known as cratons, have survived billions of years of tectonic activity and erosion. The rocks in the center of the ocean floor are relatively young due to the constant creation and recycling of the oceanic crust. The highest mountains on Earth, such as the Himalayas, are formed through the collision of tectonic plates, so the rocks there are typically younger. Rocks pushed under a tectonic plate, also known as subduction zones, are often recycled into the Earth's mantle, preventing them from being the oldest rocks on the surface.