The generation and evolution of the continental crust

Abstract: The continental crust is the archive of the geological history of the Earth. Only 7% of the crust is older than 2.5 Ga, and yet significantly more crust was generated before 2.5 Ga than subsequently. Zircons offer robust records of the magmatic and crust-forming events preserved in the continental crust. They yield marked peaks of ages of crystallization and of crust formation. The latter might reflect periods of high rates of crust generation, and as such be due to magmatism associated with deep-seated mantle plumes. Alternatively the peaks are artefacts of preservation, they mark the times of supercontinent formation, and magmas generated in some tectonic settings may be preferentially preserved.…

• SR
  Sight Research UK

  Awards: NE/D008891/2, NE/D008891/1, NE/E005225/1
• NE
  Natural Environment Research Council

  Awards: NE/D008891/2, NE/E005225/1, NE/D008891/1