About Our Field Sites

Our four working groups gather samples from around the world using drill cores, pore fluids, water columns, and in many cases, a trusty rock hammer. Many of these rocks are Precambrian, formed more than 500 million years ago, when Earth hosted minimal animal life. 

• What can rocks tell us?

  After obtaining samples, researchers can extract data in a laboratory. Careful observation combined with geochemical analysis enable us to understand environmental conditions during the development of life on Earth. With a better idea of what Earth looked like as life emerged, we can expand our search for life on other planets.