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Eoarchean and Hadean melts reveal arc-like trace element and isotopic signatures

Author

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  • Wriju Chowdhury

    (University of Rochester)

  • Dustin Trail

    (University of Rochester)

  • Martha Miller

    (University of Rochester)

  • Paul Savage

    (University of St Andrews)

Abstract

Constraining the lithological diversity and tectonics of the earliest Earth is critical to understanding our planet’s evolution. Here we use detrital Jack Hills zircon (3.7 − 4.2 Ga) analyses coupled with new experimental partitioning data to model the silica content, Si+O isotopic composition, and trace element contents of their parent melts. Comparing our derived Jack Hills zircons’ parent melt Si+O isotopic compositions (−1.92 ≤ δ30SiNBS28 ≤ 0.53 ‰; 5.23 ≤ δ18OVSMOW ≤ 9.00 ‰) to younger crustal lithologies, we conclude that the chemistry of the parent melts was influenced by the assimilation of terrigenous sediments, serpentinites, cherts, and silicified basalts, followed by igneous differentiation, leading to the formation of intermediate to felsic melts in the early Earth. Trace element measurements also show that the formational regime had an arc-like chemistry, implying the presence of mobile-lid tectonics in the Hadean. Finally, we propose that these continental-crust forming processes operated uniformly from 4.2 to at least 3.7 Ga.

Suggested Citation

  • Wriju Chowdhury & Dustin Trail & Martha Miller & Paul Savage, 2023. "Eoarchean and Hadean melts reveal arc-like trace element and isotopic signatures," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:14:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-023-36538-5
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36538-5
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Stephen J. Mojzsis & T. Mark Harrison & Robert T. Pidgeon, 2001. "Oxygen-isotope evidence from ancient zircons for liquid water at the Earth's surface 4,300 Myr ago," Nature, Nature, vol. 409(6817), pages 178-181, January.
    2. Simon Turner & Simon Wilde & Gerhard Wörner & Bruce Schaefer & Yi-Jen Lai, 2020. "An andesitic source for Jack Hills zircon supports onset of plate tectonics in the Hadean," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-5, December.
    3. François Robert & Marc Chaussidon, 2006. "A palaeotemperature curve for the Precambrian oceans based on silicon isotopes in cherts," Nature, Nature, vol. 443(7114), pages 969-972, October.
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