Rocks older than 4.03 billion years could shed light on Earth's earliest geological history, but they're incredibly rare.

Gray rocks uncovered in northern Nunavik, Quebec, Canada may be the ultimate primordial find. The stones date back 4.16 billion years to the Hadean era and are the oldest known rocks on the planet. They are described in a study published June 26 in the journal Science .

Scientists have identified what may be Earth's oldest rocks following new research into the formations. The discovery centres on the Nuvvuagittuq Greenstone Belt, situated along Hudson Bay's eastern shore in Quebec.