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 …

This work examines the global distribution of Archaean and modern igneous rock's
compositions, without relying on preconceptions about the link between rock compositions …

Boninites are rare, high-Si, high-Mg, low-Ti lavas that have considerable tectonic
significance, especially for recognizing and interpreting episodes of subduction initiation in …

There is no consensus on the processes responsible for near-coeval formation of Archaean
continental crust (dominantly tonalite–trondhjemite–granodiorite: TTG), greenstone belts …

Earth is the only known planet with subduction zones and plate tectonics, and this fact
demonstrates that special conditions are required for this mode of planetary heat loss …

The solubilities of volatiles (H 2 O, CO 2, S, F, and Cl) in basaltic melts are dependent on
variables such as temperature, pressure, melt composition, and redox state. Accordingly …

Volcanic and intrusive rocks with geochemical signatures typical of modern continental or
oceanic arcs are uncommon in the Archaean and the archetypal Archaean granite …

Modern-style plate tectonics can be tracked into the geologic past with petrotectonic
assemblages and other plate-tectonic indicators. These indicators suggest that modern plate …

Subduction of oceanic crust at an unusually low-angle has been proposed as a model for
the growth of continental crust older than about 2.5 Ga. At modern zones of low-angle-, or …

Magmatic sulfide deposits are divisible into two major groups, those that are valued primarily
for their Ni and Cu and that are mostly sulfide rich (> 10% sulfide), and those that are valued …