Understanding of secular evolution of the Earth system is based largely on the rock and
mineral archive preserved in the continental lithosphere. Based on the frequency and range …

The continental crust in the overriding plate of the India-Asia collision zone in southern Tibet
is characterized by an overthickened layer of felsic composition with an underlying granulite …

Generation of continental crust in collision zones reflect the interplay between oceanic
subduction and continental collision. The Gangdese continental crust in southern Tibet …

The Earth as a planetary system has experienced significant change since its formation c.
4.54 Gyr ago. Some of these changes have been gradual, such as secular cooling of the …

The lower plate is the dominant agent in modern convergent margins characterized by
active subduction, as negatively buoyant oceanic lithosphere sinks into the asthenosphere …

Granitoids are a major component of the continental crust. They play a pivotal role in its
evolution, either by adding new material (continental growth), or by reworking older …

Continental magmatic arcs form above subduction zones where the upper plate is
continental lithosphere and/or accreted transitional lithosphere. The best-studied examples …

Earth's silica-rich continental crust is unique among the terrestrial planets and is critical for
planetary habitability. Cratons represent the most imperishable continental fragments and …

The continental crust is unique to the Earth in the solar system, and controversies remain
regarding its origin, accretion and reworking of continents. The plate tectonics theory has …

Arc-basaltic melts of typical hydration state (≥ 2 wt% H 2 O) are buoyant relative to all
common crustal igneous rock types and may pass adiabatically from a mantle source …