The oldest rocks on Earth can be found in areas known as cratons, which are stable regions of the continental crust. Some well-known examples include the Canadian Shield in North America, the Pilbara Craton in Western Australia, and the Kaapvaal Craton in South Africa. These regions are estimated to have rocks that are over 3 billion years old.
The center of continents generally consists of ancient rocks and is referred to as a continental nucleus or shield. The Precambrian Shield, also known as the Baltic Shield, located in Scandinavia and parts of Eastern Europe, is considered one of the largest continental nuclei on Earth. The aforementioned Canadian Shield is also an example.
The center of the ocean floor contains relatively young rocks compared to continental rocks. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge is a volcanic mountain range located along the center of the Atlantic Ocean floor, which is continually spreading apart due to plate tectonics. The rocks formed at the spreading center of this ridge are relatively young compared to continental rocks.
The highest mountain on Earth is Mount Everest, located in the Himalayas. Mount Everest reaches an elevation of 29,029 feet (8,848 meters) above sea level.
When one tectonic plate is pushed under another in a process called subduction, it typically creates deep ocean trenches or volcanic arcs. Examples of regions where this occurs include the Aleutian Trench in the North Pacific Ocean, the Mariana Trench in the western Pacific Ocean, and the Peru-Chile Trench off the coast of South America.
Where might we find the oldest rock on earth
the center of continents
the center of the ocean floor
the highest mountain on earth
pushed under a tectonic plate
1 answer
1 answer