Geochemical Evolution of Archean Crust in Cratonic Terranes
Summary
The Archean eon witnessed the formation of Earth’s first stable continental nuclei, often preserved as cratonic terranes that record the geochemical pathways from primitive mafic protocrust to evolved felsic assemblages. Early crustal growth began with partial melting of a largely homogeneous mantle source, generating mafic to ultramafic crust which subsequently underwent progressive differentiation and re-melt of amphibolite-eclogite assemblages to yield tonalitic–trondhjemitic–granodioritic (TTG) suites. Over the period ca. 3.8–3.0 Ga, periodic influxes of mantle-derived magmas and underplated basalts, combined with repeated cycles of arc-type subduction, crustal reworking and high-grade metamorphism, led to chemical layering and isotopic heterogeneity. Stabilisation of cratonic roots involved thickening by magmatic underplating, lithospheric cooling and formation of buoyant keels that resist tectonic recycling. Subsequent Proterozoic reactivations imprinted metasomatic and thermal overprints but the fundamental Archean geochemical signatures—characterised by depleted high-field strength element patterns, enriched light rare earth element trends and radiogenic isotopic ratios—remain a key to deciphering early Earth dynamics. The study of these chemical archives informs global models of supercontinent assembly, mantle–crust interactions and the long-term evolution of Earth’s geochemical reservoirs.
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Geochemical Evolution of Archean Crust in Cratonic Terranes publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in geochemical evolution of archean crust in cratonic terranes across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Archean: Geological eon spanning 4.0 to 2.5 billion years ago when Earth’s first stable crust formed.
Craton: Ancient, stable part of the continental lithosphere that has survived cycles of amalgamation and rifting.
Tonalite–Trondhjemite–Granodiorite (TTG): Felsic rock suite typical of early continental crust, produced by partial melting of hydrated basaltic sources.
U–Pb geochronology: Radiometric dating method using uranium–lead decay systems in zircon to determine rock ages.
Isotopic systematics: Study of ratios of isotopes (e.g. Hf, Sr, Pb) to trace crustal sources and processes.
Komatiite: Ultramafic volcanic rock with very high MgO content, indicative of high-temperature mantle melting in the Archean.
Crustal underplating: Intrusion and accumulation of dense basaltic magmas at the base of the crust, contributing to crustal growth and thermal regimes.
References
- Formation of Paleo- to Meso-Archean continental crust in the western Dharwar Craton, India: Constraints from UPb zircon ages and Hf-Pb-Sr isotopes of granitoids and sedimentary rocks. Chemical Geology (2023).
- Tectono-Thermal History of the Neoarchean Balehonnur Shear Zone, Western Dharwar Craton (Southern India). Lithosphere (2022).
- Geochemistry of Layered Ultramafic Rocks in J.C. Pura Schist Belt, Dharwar Craton, Karnataka, India. Open Journal of Geology (2023).
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