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Petrology

Ancient magma sources revealed

The composition of Earth's oldest crust is uncertain. Comparison of the most ancient mineral grains with more recent analogues suggests that formation of the earliest crust was heavily influenced by re-melting of igneous basement rocks.

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Figure 1: Artist's impression of Hadean Earth.

MASPIX / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

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Correspondence to Elizabeth Bell.

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Bell, E. Ancient magma sources revealed. Nature Geosci 10, 397–398 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/ngeo2955

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