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Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Geophysics
Secular change and the onset of plate tectonics on Earth
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Identified Weaknesses
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Paper Summary
Paperzilla title
From Heat Pipes to Plates: A Rocky History of Earth's Tectonic Evolution
Evidence suggests a global-scale initiation of plate tectonics no later than c. 3 Ga. Earlier apparent subduction events may be attributed to localized plume-induced subduction initiation, which did not develop into a stable global network until the Mesoarchean or later.
Possible Conflicts of Interest
None identified
Identified Weaknesses
Debated Reliability of Proxies
The reliability of various proxies used to determine the initiation of plate tectonics is debated, which adds uncertainty to the proposed conclusions.
Limited Observational Evidence for Archean Oceanic Crust
The reliance on theoretical considerations and model results may not fully capture the complexity of natural processes.
Assumption of Uniformitarianism
The interpretation of geochemical and tectonic indicators is based on uniformitarianistic principles, which may not be entirely applicable to early Earth conditions.
Uncertainty in Mantle Cooling Rate
The review presents different models for mantle cooling rates, but does not conclusively resolve discrepancies.
Rating Explanation
This review provides a valuable synthesis of existing evidence regarding the onset of plate tectonics, covering petrological, tectonic, geochemical, isotopic, and geodynamic modeling approaches. The review acknowledges uncertainties and unresolved issues, suggesting directions for future research.
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File Information
Original Title:
Secular change and the onset of plate tectonics on Earth
File Name:
r2b88qc335.pdf
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File Size:
5.10 MB
Uploaded:
July 14, 2025 at 06:51 AM
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