Potassic, high-silica Hadean crust.
basic_science · Level V
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- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 29866820.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1073/pnas.1720880115 and PMC identifier 6016771.
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Abstract
Understanding Hadean (>4 Ga) Earth requires knowledge of its crust. The composition of the crust and volatiles migrating through it directly influence the makeup of the atmosphere, the composition of seawater, and nutrient availability. Despite its importance, there is little known and less agreed upon regarding the nature of the Hadean crust. By analyzing the <sup>87</sup>Sr/<sup>86</sup>Sr ratio of apatite inclusions in Archean zircons from Nuvvuagittuq, Canada, we show that its protolith had formed a high (>1) Rb/Sr ratio reservoir by at least 4.2 Ga. This result implies that the early crust had a broad range of igneous rocks, extending from mafic to highly silicic compositions.