Oldest evidence of life on Earth’ is found in 3.9-billion-year-old rocks

Researchers may have found the oldest evidence of life on Earth – in ancient fossil dating from nearly four billion years ago, an era when Earth was still being bombarded by comets.
The Tokyo University researchers believe that the grains of graphite found in ancient sedimentary rocks in Labrador, Canada, show that life existed on Earth 3.95 billion years ago.
“This is the oldest evidence,” Tsuyoshi Komiya of The University of Tokyo said, according to AFP.

The discovery was made in rocks found in Labrador, Canada. Source: Google Maps

“Our samples are also the oldest supracrustal rocks preserved on Earth. The organisms inhabited an open ocean.”


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The researchers measured concentrations and isotope compositions of the graphite, and concluded that it was produced by a living organism.

The discover is said to show life being 3.9 billion years old.

Earth formed about 4.5 billion years ago and the oceans appeared roughly 4.4 billion years ago.
The new study and some other recent research indicate that microbial life emerged earlier than previously known and relatively soon after the Earth’s formation.
They did not find fossils of the microorganisms that may have left behind the graphite, a form of carbon, but said they may have been bacteria.