Research results showed Earth’s earliest crust – known as the protocrust – that formed during the Hadean eon, would have a chemical composition identical to that of the modern average continental ...

Earth's crust today has a surprisingly similar composition to the planet's first outer shell, or "protocrust," new research ...

The study also provides a new approach to solving one of the biggest enduring scientific mysteries: when did plate tectonics begin?

Earth is the only known planet which has plate tectonics today. The constant movement of these giant slabs of rock over the planet's magma creates continents - and may have even helped create life.

The team's calculations showed the protocrust -- Earth's earliest crust formed during the Hadean eon (4.5-4.0 billion years ago) -- would naturally develop the same chemical signatures found in ...

As a result, ancient rocks are very rare and there are probably none now remaining from the Hadean eon (4.5–4 billion years ago). Interestingly, despite much effort over many decades ...

The study focused on the protocrust, Earth’s earliest crust, which formed during the Hadean eon, about 4.5 to 4.0 billion years ago. Data from zircon minerals—dated to 4.38 billion years—in ...

The team’s calculations showed the protocrust – Earth’s earliest crust formed during the Hadean eon (4.5-4.0 billion years ago) – would naturally develop the same chemical signatures found in today’s ...