Understanding of secular evolution of the Earth system is based largely on the rock and
mineral archive preserved in the continental lithosphere. Based on the frequency and range …

One of the most contentious areas of Earth Science today is when, or whether or not modern-
style plate tectonics was in operation in the Archean Eon. In this review we present evidence …

If we accept that a critical condition for plate tectonics is the creation and maintenance of a
global network of narrow boundaries separating multiple plates, then to argue for plate …

When and how Earth's earliest continents—the cratons—first emerged above the oceans (ie,
emersion) remain uncertain. Here, we analyze a craton-wide record of Paleo-to …

Reconstructing Earth history during the Hadean defies the traditional rock-based approach
in geology. Given the extremely limited locality of Hadean zircons, some indirect approach …

The redox evolution of Archean upper mantle impacted mantle melting and the nature of
chemical equilibrium between mantle, ocean and atmosphere of the early Earth. Yet, the …

Resolving the geochemical discrepancies between the bulk continental crust and its
building blocks, basaltic arc magmas, can provide insights into the processes by which the …

The transition from mafic to felsic upper continental crust (UCC) is crucial to habitability of
Earth, and may be related to the onset of plate tectonics. Thus, defining when this crustal …

The nature of emerged continents through time is highly debated. Several studies relying on
trace element data concluded that the Archaean crust was predominantly mafic, while Ti …

Accurately quantifying the composition of continental crust on Hadean and Archean Earth is
critical to our understanding of the physiography, tectonics, and climate of our planet at the …