America's Oldest Rocks - Part 2 - The Unveil episode artwork

EPISODE · Aug 21, 2025 · 44 MIN

America's Oldest Rocks - Part 2 - The Unveil

from PlanetGeo: The Geology Podcast

In this episode, we dive back into the bedrock of America to reveal which state holds the crown for the oldest rocks in the U.S.! Join us as we unravel the mysteries of ancient metamorphic formations. From the Morton Gneisses in Minnesota, to the Wyoming craton out West, and ending in Upper Michigan, you'll find out what the oldest rocks are, and how we know! Hit that subscribe button, because this episode rocks! The paper that served as the basis for this episode is Frost, C.D., Mueller, P.A., Bickford, M.E., and Stern, R.J., 2025, USA’s oldest rock? A simple question with a complex answer: GSA Today, v. 35, p. 4–10,https://doi.org/10.1130/GSATG613A.1.00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview00:50 Setting the Stage: America's Oldest Rocks02:28 Understanding Metamorphic Rocks05:18 The Importance of Rock Ages09:55 Zircon and Uranium-Lead Dating14:16 Metamorphism and Zircon Growth22:05 Metamorphic and Igneous Rock Processes23:32 Understanding Zircon Inheritance24:32 Determining Rock Ages27:21 Challenges in Identifying Rock Types31:44 Oldest Rocks in the United States36:52 Technological Advancements in Geochronology42:51 Conclusion and Further ResearchDownload the CampGeo app now at this link. On the app you can get tons of free content, exclusive images, and access to our Geology of National Parks series. You can also learn the basics of geology at the college level in our FREE CampGeo content series - get learning now!Like, Subscribe, and leave us a Rating!——————————————————Instagram: @planetgeocastTwitter: @planetgeocastFacebook: @planetgeocastSupport us: https://planetgeocast.com/support-usEmail: [email protected]: https://planetgeocast.com/

In this episode, we dive back into the bedrock of America to reveal which state holds the crown for the oldest rocks in the U.S.! Join us as we unravel the mysteries of ancient metamorphic formations. From the Morton Gneisses in Minnesota, to the Wyoming craton out West, and ending in Upper Michigan, you'll find out what the oldest rocks are, and how we know! Hit that subscribe button, because this episode rocks! The paper that served as the basis for this episode is Frost, C.D., Muelle...

NOW PLAYING

America's Oldest Rocks - Part 2 - The Unveil

0:00 44:57

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of PlanetGeo: The Geology Podcast?

This episode is 44 minutes long.

When was this PlanetGeo: The Geology Podcast episode published?

This episode was published on August 21, 2025.

What is this episode about?

In this episode, we dive back into the bedrock of America to reveal which state holds the crown for the oldest rocks in the U.S.! Join us as we unravel the mysteries of ancient metamorphic formations. From the Morton Gneisses in Minnesota, to the...

Can I download this PlanetGeo: The Geology Podcast episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.
URL copied to clipboard!