Earth formed about 4.6 billion years ago, during the geological eon known as the Hadean. The name "Hadean" comes from the ...

The oldest terrestrial materials ever dated by scientists are extremely rare zircon minerals that were discovered in western ...

Rocks older than 4.03 billion years could shed light on Earth's earliest geological history, but they're incredibly rare.

By confirming the age of these rocks, and that they might just be the oldest rocks on Earth, we’re finally opening the door ...

A troy ounce bar of gold is worth a hefty sum of money, but the same amount of this mineral is worth over a hundred million ...

Along certain parts of the ocean floor lies a bounty of rare minerals and metals, critical components for batteries, electric cars and other electronics. But mining for them in the deep sea is a ...

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

Canadian scientists found the oldest known rocks on Earth - dating back 4.16 billion years - shedding light on our planet’s ...

NASA’s Perseverance rover examines a complex Martian rock, collects rare minerals, and sets a new driving record.

Mines and factories in and around Ganzhou, a key production hub for rare earths, underpin China’s control over the minerals. Many residents grew up collecting rocks containing the valuable minerals ...

China is retaliating against U.S. tariffs by restricting exports of rare earth minerals. Minerals expert Gracelin Baskaran explains why these little-known-elements are so vital to defense and tech.

China’s dominance of the rare earths supply chain has emerged as a potent tool in its renewed trade war with the United States. The minerals are used to power everything from iPhones to fighter ...