Precambrian geology articles within Nature

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• Article
  08 May 2024 | Open Access

  Subaerial weathering drove stabilization of continents

  The geological histories of Archaean regions indicate that stabilization of the Earth’s continents and the formation of cratons was driven by continental emergence and subaerial weathering.

  • Jesse R. Reimink
  •  & Andrew J. Smye

• Article | 27 September 2023

  Earth’s early continental crust formed from wet and oxidizing arc magmas

  The use of two zircon oxybarometers to simultaneously determine fO₂ and H₂O contents shows that Archaean granitoids were mostly formed from relatively oxidizing and H₂O-rich magmas, probably at ancient subduction zones.

  • Rong-Feng Ge
  • , Simon A. Wilde
  •  & Xiao-Lei Wang

• Review Article | 11 August 2021

  Deep continental roots and cratons

  Cratons are the oldest parts of the Earth’s continents; this Review concludes that the production of widespread, thick and strong lithosphere via the process of orogenic thickening was fundamental to the eventual emergence of extensive continental landmasses.

  • D. Graham Pearson
  • , James M. Scott
  •  & Peter B. Kelemen

• Article | 31 March 2021

  Oxygen isotopes trace the origins of Earth’s earliest continental crust

  Oxygen isotopes and whole-rock geochemistry show that the water required to make Earth’s first continental crust was primordial and derived from the mantle, not surface water introduced by subduction.

  • Robert H. Smithies
  • , Yongjun Lu
  •  & Simon P. Johnson

• Letter | 07 August 2019

  Metamorphism and the evolution of plate tectonics

  Variability in Earth’s thermal gradients, recorded by metamorphic rocks through time, shows that Earth’s modern plate tectonics developed gradually since the Neoarchaean era, three billion years ago.

  • Robert M. Holder
  • , Daniel R. Viete
  •  & Tim E. Johnson

• Letter | 08 August 2018

  Reverse weathering as a long-term stabilizer of marine pH and planetary climate

  Elevated rates of reverse weathering within silica-rich oceans led to enhanced carbon retention within the ocean–atmosphere system, promoting a stable, equable ice-free climate throughout Earth’s early to middle ages.

  • Terry T. Isson
  •  & Noah J. Planavsky