Researchers from Australia’s Curtin University have discovered a 400-million-year-old section of the Earth’s crust beneath the southwestern tip of South Australia. It was discovered by shining a laser, thinner than a hair, into a tiny grain of mineral extracted from beach sand. This new discovery provides information on planetary evolution and how an uninhabited planet became habitable.

Lead researcher Maximilian Drelner said the laser was used to vaporize individual grains of zircon minerals. The technique, known as laser ablation split stream-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry, allows scientists to determine the age of the crust and compare it to other crusts. From this they can know where this layer was first destroyed. Also, it reveals the geological history of the area.

Drollner says that this part of the earth’s crust is about the size of Ireland. “We found evidence that this 400-million-year-old fragment affected the geological development of South Australia over millions of years,” he said. Also, it has played an important role in the formation of rocks formed there.

According to research published in the journal Terra Nova, the study found that 400 million years ago, the Earth underwent a significant change, such as a decrease in meteorite showers, stabilization of the crust, and the establishment of life on Earth.

Lasers illuminate ways to trace ancient times #Outside At the bottom #WesternAustralia https://t.co/IPRzjsxwm7 https://t.co/UmZ6uIh7ex

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Scientists say this area has not been extensively studied before. Very good results compared to current statistics.