Heat-producing elements like uranium and thorium are depleted in the lower crust. The geochemistry of crustal rocks suggests ultrahigh melting temperatures are needed to produce this depletion and may also help stabilize the crust.
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Daniel Dunkley
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Harley, S.L. Refining the crust. Nat. Geosci. 18, 1189–1190 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-025-01865-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-025-01865-3
