"Unearthing the Ancient Origins of Earth's Earliest Glaciers"
Scientists have discovered evidence of the oldest glaciers ever found, estimated to be 2.9 billion years old, in ancient rocks beneath South Africa's largest gold deposits. The rock beds near Durban contain fossilized glacial moraines, indicating the presence of glaciers during that time. The analysis of oxygen isotopes in the rocks suggests that the Earth experienced gradual climatic cooling, potentially leading to a global cooling period. The findings provide new insights into Earth's early history and may help explain the formation of goldfields. Further research is expected to follow to validate these discoveries.