Freshwater first appeared on Earth 4 billion years ago, ancient crystals hint
Zircon chemistry may push back the water cycle’s start by hundreds of millions of years
![A satellite view of a rock formation in Australia where the earliest evidence of freshwater on Earth was found.](https://i0.wp.com/www.sciencenews.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/053124_cg_freshwater_feat.jpg?fit=1030%2C580&ssl=1)
An analysis of ancient zircon crystals from the Jack Hills formation (shown in a satellite image) in Western Australia suggests freshwater was cycling on Earth hundreds of millions of years earlier than previously thought.
NASA/GSFC/METI/ERSDAC/JAROS, U.S./Japan ASTER Science Team