Mountains feel eternal. They are immovable symbols of strength and a testament to the passage of time. But Earth’s peaks are relatively young in geological terms. The Rockies, for example, are approximately 80 million years old, while the Himalayas are around 50 million years old.
By contrast, some things on (and beyond) our planet predate those majestic ranges by billions of years. Here are ten things older than Earth’s mountains.
Water on Earth
The water in your glass might be older than the Earth’s tallest peaks, and possibly the planet itself. Scientists believe much of Earth’s water arrived via icy comets and asteroids over 4 billion years ago, meaning it’s been circulating in various forms for eons.
The Moon
Formed roughly 4.5 billion years ago after a Mars-sized body collided with early Earth, the Moon predates every mountain on the planet. While mountains rise and erode, the Moon’s cratered face remains a cosmic time capsule of our solar system’s youth.
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Ancient Zircon Crystals
Discovered in Western Australia, zircon crystals are the oldest known materials on Earth. These date back 4.4 billion years. These microscopic gems survived cataclysmic events, providing scientists with clues about the planet’s earliest crust long before mountain ranges formed.
Stromatolites: Earth’s First Architects
These layered rock formations, created by ancient microbes, date back over 3.5 billion years. Stromatolites were among the first signs of life on Earth, slowly building reefs long before mountains ever rose from tectonic shifts.
The Continents Themselves
While mountain ranges constantly rise and erode, Earth’s continental crust has existed for billions of years. The land beneath our feet is far older than the peaks above it, and has been recycled, reshaped, and renewed countless times through plate tectonics.
Fossilized Microbes
In Greenland and Western Australia, scientists have found fossilized microorganisms estimated to be 3.7 billion years old. These ancient life forms lived in shallow seas when Earth’s surface was still cooling. They serve as a reminder that life’s story began long before Earth’s landscapes took shape.
Diamonds
Formed deep within the mantle between 1 and 3 billion years ago, diamonds are far older than the mountains that now expose them. Each gem is a geological time capsule, carrying whispers of Earth’s fiery beginnings to the surface.
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Meteorites
Many meteorites that fall to Earth today are remnants of the solar system’s birth, from around 4.6 billion years ago. Some even contain presolar grains, tiny mineral fragments that predate the Sun itself. These cosmic visitors remind us that parts of our planet’s story were written in the stars.
The Sun
Our Sun has been burning for 4.6 billion years, long before Earth’s crust hardened or mountains formed. Its light has witnessed every geological age and will continue to shine for billions more, long after today’s peaks have eroded into dust.
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The Atoms in Your Body
Here’s the ultimate perspective: the hydrogen in your body formed during the Big Bang, about 13.8 billion years ago. The carbon, calcium, and oxygen atoms inside you were forged in the hearts of long-dead stars. In a very real sense, you are made of material older than mountains, Earth, and even the solar system itself.
Ancient by Design
Mountains may tower above us, but they’re newcomers in the cosmic timeline. The next time you gaze at a rocky summit, remember that you’re standing on, breathing in, and made of things older than the Earth’s tallest peaks.
