From the Oz ABC News.

A team of American scientists has discovered traces of bacteria in Western Australia's Pilbara dating back more than 3.9 billion years.

Nora Noffke is a biochemist from Old Dominion University in the US state of Virginia and spoke at a recent Geological Society of America meeting about her group's findings.

She believes the traces belong to the oldest fossils in the earth's history.

The university has confirmed the find, but says it is not prepared to comment further until the release of an official journal.

Pilbara MP Robin Chapple says it is an exciting development.

"To actually have a plate that we've been able to identify at that age in the Pilbara, I think is very exciting," he said.

However, Mr Chapple concedes it is unlikely to do much for the region's tourism industry.

"The tourism market would be very, very limited because I mean there are only so many people who really get their jollies out of watching or looking at bits of rock," he said.

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