Oldest Earthquakes on Record Dating 3.3 Billion Years Ago Discovered at Barberton Greenstone Belt in Africa

The oldest earthquakes on record dating billions of years ago were found at ancient rock formation in Africa, according to a new study led by scientists in New Zealand. The discovery comes after geologists conducted new mapping of the Barberton Greenstone Belt in South Africa, revealing the earliest known earthquakes on the planet 3.3 billion years ago. The complex geological formation also confirms the existence of ancient plate tectonics.

Earthquakes are known both in recorded and ancient history as part of seismic activities beneath our planet, particularly the movement of tectonic plates. There are instances when powerful quakes cause widespread damage and fatalities. However, some scientists believe that this violent geological phenomenon and other seismic activities related to it are one of the key conditions for the emergence and survival of life billions of years ago.

Oldest Earthquakes on Record

In their study published in the journal Geology on February 27, researchers confirmed traces of some of the oldest earthquakes on record through large-scale submarine landslides in the Barberton Greenstone Belt in southern Africa. The discovery shows strong evidence for the phenomenon of subduction and great earthquakes during the Paleoarchean geologic period spanning from 3.6 billion to 3.2 billion years ago.

After Earth formed 4.5 billion years ago, the planet was believed to resemble an unformed ball of molten rock. During these primordial days, evidence shows the entire planet was molten, meaning there was an endless sea of magma, long before oceans and land masses existed. Under this context, the discovery of the earliest earthquakes confirms Earth's prehistoric transition into a solid, habitable planet 3.3 billion years ago.

Barberton Greenstone Belt

The New Zealand research team arrived at their conclusion by conducting new mapping of the Barberton Greenstone Belt. Their surveying showed that the central part of the rocky structure is a "pseudo-stratigraphy" composed of shallow water and deep water siliciclastic and volcanic slide blocks. Since the discovery is similar to ancient and recent submarine landslides in New Zealand, the earthquakes had been linked to tremors during the Paleoarchean.

The researchers explain the geological formations in the South African region were previously difficult to decipher, despite many attempts to understand them. Yet, the new research is comparable to the young rocks on the seafloor of the Pacific Ocean off the coast of New Zealand. The discovery also paved the way for a new perspective of what Earth looked like when it was still young, according to reports earlier this week.

The February 2024 study highlights not only new knowledge on ancient earthquakes but also their potential role in the proliferation of life on Earth. To prove the significance of quakes or at least geological activities to the emergence of living organisms, further research is needed that may include a combination of biology and geology to link a gap in the mystery of the origin of life.