Early Chemical Signatures and Crust Formation
Researchers discovered that Earth's first crust, formed about 4.5 billion years ago, had chemical features akin to today's continental crust, challenging previous beliefs about the formation of continents and the onset of plate tectonics.
The study, led by Professor Simon Turner, utilized mathematical models to show that the protocrust's chemical signatures could develop naturally under early Earth conditions, without the need for plate tectonics.
Impact of Meteorites and Plate Tectonics
Heavy meteor bombardment in Earth's early history contributed to the crust's disruption and recycling, suggesting that plate tectonics might have been intermittent until about 3.8 billion years ago.
This research prompts a reevaluation of Earth's earliest geological processes and offers new insights into the formation of continents on other rocky planets, potentially altering our understanding of planetary evolution.