Continent Formation Through Time

The continental crust is our archive of Earth history, and the store of many natural resources; however, many key questions about its formation and evolution remain debated and unresolved:
What processes are involved in the formation, differentiation and evolution of continental crust, and how have these changed throughout Earth history?
How are plate tectonics, the supercontinent cycle and mantle cooling linked with crustal evolution?
What are the rates of generation and destruction of the continental crust through time?
How representative is the preserved geological record?
A range of approaches are used to address these questions, including field-based studies, petrology and geochemistry, geophysical methods, palaeomagnetism, whole-rock and accessory-phase isotope chemistry and geochronology. Case studies range from the Eoarchaean to Phanerozoic, and cover many different cratons and orogenic belts from across the continents.
Download citation file:
Table of Contents
-
Continent formation through timeAuthor(s)Nick M. W. Roberts;Nick M. W. Roberts1NERC Isotope Geosciences Laboratory, British Geological Survey, Keyworth, Nottingham NG12 5GG, UKSearch for other works by this author on:Martin J. Van Kranendonk;Martin J. Van Kranendonk2School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, and Australian Centre for Astrobiology, University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW 2052, AustraliaSearch for other works by this author on:Stephen Parman;Stephen Parman3Department of Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USASearch for other works by this author on:Peter D. CliftPeter D. Clift4Department of Geology and Geophysics, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USASearch for other works by this author on:
-
Geophysics and Numerical Modelling
-
Earth’s punctuated tectonic evolution: cause and effectAuthor(s)C. O’Neill;C. O’Neill1CCFS ARC Centre of Excellence, GEMOC, Macquarie University, Sydney, AustraliaSearch for other works by this author on:A. Lenardic;A. Lenardic2Rice University, Houston, Texas, USASearch for other works by this author on:K. C. CondieK. C. Condie3New Mexico Tech, Socorro, New Mexico, USASearch for other works by this author on:
-
The Hudson Bay Lithospheric Experiment (HuBLE): insights into Precambrian plate tectonics and the development of mantle keelsAuthor(s)I. D. Bastow;I. D. Bastow1Department of Earth Science and Engineering, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UKSearch for other works by this author on:D. W. Eaton;D. W. Eaton2Department of Geoscience, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 1N4Search for other works by this author on:J.-M. Kendall;J.-M. Kendall3Department of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1RJ, UKSearch for other works by this author on:G. Helffrich;G. Helffrich3Department of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1RJ, UKSearch for other works by this author on:D. B. Snyder;D. B. Snyder4Geological Survey of Canada, Natural Resources Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0E9Search for other works by this author on:D. A. Thompson;D. A. Thompson5School of Earth and the Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UKSearch for other works by this author on:J. Wookey;J. Wookey3Department of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1RJ, UKSearch for other works by this author on:F. A. Darbyshire;F. A. Darbyshire6Centre de Recherche GEOTOP, Université du Québec á Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada H3C 3P8Search for other works by this author on:A. E. PawlakA. E. Pawlak2Department of Geoscience, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 1N4Search for other works by this author on:
-
Supercontinent integrity between 0.8 and 0.6 Ga: the nemesis of Rodinia?Author(s)J. D. A. PiperJ. D. A. PiperGeomagnetism Laboratory, Geology and Geophysics, School of Environmental Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZE, UK (e-mail: sg04@liverpool.ac.uk)Search for other works by this author on:
-
-
Geology and Geochemistry
-
Making it thick: a volcanic plateau origin of Palaeoarchean continental lithosphere of the Pilbara and Kaapvaal cratonsAuthor(s)Martin J. Van Kranendonk;Martin J. Van Kranendonk1School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia2Australian Centre for Astrobiology, University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia3Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Core to Crust Fluid Systems, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, AustraliaSearch for other works by this author on:R. Hugh Smithies;R. Hugh Smithies4Geological Survey of Western Australia, 100 Plain St, East Perth, Western Australia 6004, AustraliaSearch for other works by this author on:William L. Griffin;William L. Griffin5Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, ARC Centre of Excellence for Core to Crust Fluid Systems, Macquarie University, NSW 2109, AustraliaSearch for other works by this author on:David L. Huston;David L. Huston6Geoscience Australia, GPO Box 378, Canberra, ACT, 2601, AustraliaSearch for other works by this author on:Arthur H. Hickman;Arthur H. Hickman4Geological Survey of Western Australia, 100 Plain St, East Perth, Western Australia 6004, AustraliaSearch for other works by this author on:David C. Champion;David C. Champion6Geoscience Australia, GPO Box 378, Canberra, ACT, 2601, AustraliaSearch for other works by this author on:Carl R. Anhaeusser;Carl R. Anhaeusser7Economic Geology Research Institute, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, WITS 2050, South AfricaSearch for other works by this author on:Franco PirajnoFranco Pirajno4Geological Survey of Western Australia, 100 Plain St, East Perth, Western Australia 6004, AustraliaSearch for other works by this author on:
-
The emergence of the Eoarchaean proto-arc: evolution of a c. 3700 Ma convergent plate boundary at Isua, southern West GreenlandAuthor(s)Allen P. Nutman;Allen P. Nutman1GeoQuEST Research Centre, School of Earth & Environmental Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, AustraliaSearch for other works by this author on:Vickie C. Bennett;Vickie C. Bennett2Research School of Earth Sciences, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, AustraliaSearch for other works by this author on:Clark R. L. FriendClark R. L. Friend3Gendale, Tiddington, Oxon, OX9 2LQ, UKSearch for other works by this author on:
-
Neoarchaean crustal growth by combined arc–plume action: evidence from the Kadiri Greenstone Belt, eastern Dharwar craton, IndiaAuthor(s)Sukanta Dey;Sukanta Dey1Department of Applied Geology, Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad 826004, IndiaSearch for other works by this author on:Jinia Nandy;Jinia Nandy1Department of Applied Geology, Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad 826004, IndiaSearch for other works by this author on:A. K. Choudhary;A. K. Choudhary2Institute Instrumentation Centre, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee 247667, IndiaSearch for other works by this author on:Yongsheng Liu;Yongsheng Liu3State Key Laboratory of Geological Processes and Mineral Resources, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, ChinaSearch for other works by this author on:Keqing ZongKeqing Zong3State Key Laboratory of Geological Processes and Mineral Resources, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, ChinaSearch for other works by this author on:
-
U–Pb zircon ages and (isotope) geochemical signatures of the Kamanjab Inlier (NW Namibia): constraints on Palaeoproterozoic crustal evolution along the southern Congo cratonAuthor(s)I. C. Kleinhanns;I. C. Kleinhanns1Institutt for geovitenskap, Universitetet i Bergen, Allégaten 41, 5007 Bergen, Norway2FB Geowissenschaften, Eberhard Karls-Universität Tübingen, Wilhelmstraße 56, 72074 Tübingen, GermanySearch for other works by this author on:T. Fullgraf;T. Fullgraf3BRGM, 3 avenue C. Guillemin, 45000 Orléans, FranceSearch for other works by this author on:F. Wilsky;F. Wilsky4GZG, Georg-August Universität, Goldschmidtstrasse 3, 37077 Göttingen, GermanySearch for other works by this author on:N. Nolte;N. Nolte4GZG, Georg-August Universität, Goldschmidtstrasse 3, 37077 Göttingen, GermanySearch for other works by this author on:D. Fliegel;D. Fliegel1Institutt for geovitenskap, Universitetet i Bergen, Allégaten 41, 5007 Bergen, NorwaySearch for other works by this author on:R. Klemd;R. Klemd5GeoZentrum Nord-Bayern, Universität Erlangen, Schlossgarten 5a, 91054 Erlangen, GermanySearch for other works by this author on:B. T. HansenB. T. Hansen4GZG, Georg-August Universität, Goldschmidtstrasse 3, 37077 Göttingen, GermanySearch for other works by this author on:
-
-
Zircon
-
The zircon archive of continent formation through timeAuthor(s)Nick M. W. Roberts;Nick M. W. RobertsNERC Isotope Geosciences Laboratory, British Geological Survey, Keyworth, Nottingham NG12 5GG, UKSearch for other works by this author on:Christopher J. SpencerChristopher J. SpencerNERC Isotope Geosciences Laboratory, British Geological Survey, Keyworth, Nottingham NG12 5GG, UKSearch for other works by this author on:
-
The oldest crust in the Ukrainian Shield – Eoarchaean U–Pb ages and Hf–Nd constraints from enderbites and metasedimentsAuthor(s)S. Claesson;S. Claesson1Department of Geosciences, Swedish Museum of Natural History, Box 50007, SE-10405 Stockholm, SwedenSearch for other works by this author on:E. Bibikova;E. Bibikova2Vernadsky Institute of Geochemistry & Analytical Chemistry RAS, Kosygin St. 19, 119991 Moscow, RussiaSearch for other works by this author on:L. Shumlyanskyy;L. Shumlyanskyy1Department of Geosciences, Swedish Museum of Natural History, Box 50007, SE-10405 Stockholm, Sweden3M.P. Semenenko Institute of Geochemistry, Mineralogy and Ore Formation, Palladina Ave., 34, 03142, Kyiv, UkraineSearch for other works by this author on:B. Dhuime;B. Dhuime4Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of St Andrews, North Street, St Andrews KY16 9AL, UK5Department of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, Wills Memorial Building, Queens Road, Bristol BS8 1RJ, UKSearch for other works by this author on:C. J. HawkesworthC. J. Hawkesworth4Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of St Andrews, North Street, St Andrews KY16 9AL, UKSearch for other works by this author on:
-
The Eoarchaean foundation of the North Atlantic CratonAuthor(s)Penelope J. Lancaster;Penelope J. Lancaster1Present address: School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Portsmouth, Burnaby Building, Burnaby Rd, Portsmouth PO1 3QL, UKSearch for other works by this author on:Craig D. Storey;Craig D. Storey1Present address: School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Portsmouth, Burnaby Building, Burnaby Rd, Portsmouth PO1 3QL, UKSearch for other works by this author on:Chris J. HawkesworthChris J. Hawkesworth2Present address: Department of Environmental and Earth Sciences, University of St Andrews, St Andrews KY16 9AL, UKSearch for other works by this author on:
-
Zircon U–Pb and Hf – isotopes from the eastern part of the Sveconorwegian Orogen, SW Sweden: implications for the growth of FennoscandiaAuthor(s)Andreas Petersson;Andreas Petersson1Department of Geology, Lund University, Sölvegatan 12, SE-223 62 Lund, SwedenSearch for other works by this author on:Anders Scherstén;Anders Scherstén1Department of Geology, Lund University, Sölvegatan 12, SE-223 62 Lund, SwedenSearch for other works by this author on:Jenny Andersson;Jenny Andersson2Geological Survey of Sweden, Box 670, SE-751 28 Uppsala, SwedenSearch for other works by this author on:Charlotte MöllerCharlotte Möller1Department of Geology, Lund University, Sölvegatan 12, SE-223 62 Lund, SwedenSearch for other works by this author on:
-
A Hf-isotope perspective on continent formation in the south Peruvian AndesAuthor(s)Flora Boekhout;Flora Boekhout1Section of Earth and Environmental Sciences, rue des Maraîchers 13, CH-1205 Geneva, Switzerland5Present address: Case 115, IMPMC, 4 place Jussieu, 75005 Paris, Cedex 05, FranceSearch for other works by this author on:Nick M. W. Roberts;Nick M. W. Roberts2NERC Isotope Geoscience Laboratory, Kingsley Dunham Centre, Keyworth, Nottingham NG12 5GG, UKSearch for other works by this author on:Axel Gerdes;Axel Gerdes3Goethe-University Frankfurt, Institute of Geosciences, Altenhoeferallee 1, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany4Department of Earth Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South AfricaSearch for other works by this author on:Urs SchalteggerUrs Schaltegger1Section of Earth and Environmental Sciences, rue des Maraîchers 13, CH-1205 Geneva, SwitzerlandSearch for other works by this author on:
-
Gondwana margin evolution from zircon REE, O and Hf signatures of Western Province gneisses, ZealandiaAuthor(s)Joe Hiess;Joe Hiess1Division of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Korea Basic Science Institute, South Korea2School of Geography, Environment and Earth Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, New ZealandSearch for other works by this author on:Keewook Yi;Keewook Yi1Division of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Korea Basic Science Institute, South KoreaSearch for other works by this author on:Jon Woodhead;Jon Woodhead3School of Earth Sciences, University of Melbourne, AustraliaSearch for other works by this author on:Trevor Ireland;Trevor Ireland4Research School of Earth Sciences, The Australian National University, AustraliaSearch for other works by this author on:Mark RattenburyMark Rattenbury5GNS Science, Lower Hutt, New ZealandSearch for other works by this author on:
-