A change in the geodynamics of continental growth 3 billion years ago

B. Dhuime, C. Hawkesworth, P. Cawood, Craig Storey

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    Abstract

    Models for the growth of continental crust rely on knowing the balance between the generation of new crust and the reworking of old crust throughout Earth’s history. The oxygen isotopic composition of zircons, for which uranium-lead and hafnium isotopic data provide age constraints, is a key archive of crustal reworking. We identified systematic variations in hafnium and oxygen isotopes in zircons of different ages that reveal the relative proportions of reworked crust and of new crust through time. Growth of continental crust appears to have been a continuous process, albeit at variable rates. A marked decrease in the rate of crustal growth at ~3 billion years ago may be linked to the onset of subduction-driven plate tectonics.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)1334-1336
    Number of pages3
    JournalScience
    Volume335
    Issue number6074
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 16 Mar 2012

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'A change in the geodynamics of continental growth 3 billion years ago'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this