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https://doi.org/10.22541/au.17...
Article . 2026 . Peer-reviewed
License: CC BY
Data sources: Crossref
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https://doi.org/10.22541/au.17...
Article . 2026 . Peer-reviewed
License: CC BY
Data sources: Crossref
ZENODO
Preprint . 2026
License: CC BY
Data sources: Datacite
ZENODO
Preprint . 2026
License: CC BY
Data sources: Datacite
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MECHANISMS OF CONTINENTAL CRUST GENERATION THROUGH GEOLOGIC TIME AND ITS CHEMICAL COMPOSITION

Authors: Hroblak, Lizbeth;

MECHANISMS OF CONTINENTAL CRUST GENERATION THROUGH GEOLOGIC TIME AND ITS CHEMICAL COMPOSITION

Abstract

The Earth formed approximately 4567 million years ago from the solar nebula. Although in theory planets should have similar compositions according to their formation time, they have experienced geochemical differentiation. In the case of Earth, this differentiation is manifested in its structure of core, mantle, and crust, resulting from the segregation of metallic iron and nickel from silicate material. This paper reviews the mechanisms of continental crust generation throughout geologic time, from the initial magma ocean to the establishment of plate tectonics. The geophysical and geochemical evidence of early differentiation, the record of Archean komatiites, the transition toward more evolved compositions in the Proterozoic, and the tectonic models proposed for the formation of granulites and anorthosites are analyzed. The integration of isotopic and trace element data allows reconstructing the compositional evolution of the crust and evaluating the role of processes such as subduction, mafic underplating, and crustal thickening in different geodynamic contexts. Recent studies on komatiite alteration and anorthosite complexes provide new constraints on Archean surface conditions and Proterozoic magmatic systems, reinforcing the operation of plate tectonic processes since at least 3.8 Ga.

Keywords

Differentiation, continental crust, plate, tectonics, granulites, geochemical, komatiites

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selected citations
These citations are derived from selected sources.
This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Citations provided by BIP!
popularity
This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Popularity provided by BIP!
influence
This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Influence provided by BIP!
impulse
This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Impulse provided by BIP!
0
Average
Average
Average