The Hadean protocrust is the Earth's original outer layer formed during its first geological aeon.
Early Earth was extremely hot, with a molten surface and constant bombardment by space rocks.
As the magma ocean cooled, the first crust formed, with parts breaking off and new areas solidifying.
Thicker crust regions gradually formed the first continents, which moved like tectonic plates over the hot mantle below.
These plates drifted, collided, and subducted, leaving unique chemical signatures in the crust.
Scientists have studied these signatures to understand the history of plate tectonics.
A new study led by Macquarie University suggests that these signatures existed even before plate subduction began, challenging previous geological assumptions.
The study’s findings need to be confirmed by other independent research.
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