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Scientists have discovered a remarkable geological record on the Garvellachs, a remote archipelago in Scotland's Inner Hebrides, that captures the transition from a warm tropical environment to a "snowball Earth" period. The rocks, dating between 720 million and 662 million years ago, provide a complete account of Earth's shift from the Tonian period to the Cryogenian period when glaciers covered the entire planet[1]. This rare preservation occurred because the ancient glaciers did not erode away the underlying rocks in this location, unlike most other areas of the world[1]. The research team analyzed a 0.7-mile-thick layer of rocks, along with an additional 230-foot-thick layer beneath it. By examining tiny zircon crystals within the rock samples, they were able to precisely date the formation of these rocks[1]. The lower section of the rock formation indicates a tropical marine environment that gradually cooled, marking the end of Earth's billion-year temperate climate. If confirmed, this site could be declared a "golden spike," serving as an official geological marker for the transition between the Tonian and Cryogenian periods[1]. Citations: [1] https://www.livescience.com/planet-earth/geology/golden-spike-showing-the-moment-earth-turned-into-a-giant-snowball-discovered-in-ancient-scottish-rocks P. Geo. Ricardo A Valls, M. Sc. and Geo Gadfly Valls Geoconsultant ORCID ID- https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5421-0914 Scopus Author ID: 7003369619/35335510700 ResearcherID: S-6604-2018 If you like this content, please "buy me a coffee" https://www.buymeacoffee.com/goldendroplets