Ancient Rocks in Scotland and Ireland Reveal Earth's Deep Freeze Era

New study confirms the Port Askaig Formation as the most complete geological record of 'snowball Earth,' dating back 662 to 720 million years.

The Port Askaig Formation spans Ireland and Scotland, with rock layers up to 1.1 km thick.
These rocks capture the transition from a warm, tropical environment to the Sturtian glaciation.
The Sturtian glaciation, lasting 60 million years, was one of two major freezes during the Cryogenian Period.
Zircon dating confirms the rocks' age, potentially marking the site for the start of the Cryogenian Period.
The findings suggest that extreme cold may have driven the emergence of complex, multicellular life.