Remnants of Eoarchean continental crust derived from a subducted proto-arc

Science Advances
Rongfeng GeHailin Wu

Abstract

Eoarchean [3.6 to 4.0 billion years ago (Ga)] tonalite-trondhjemite-granodiorite (TTG) is the major component of Earth's oldest remnant continental crust, thereby holding the key to understanding how continental crust originated and when plate tectonics started in the early Earth. TTGs are mostly generated by partial melting of hydrated mafic rocks at different depths, but whether this requires subduction remains enigmatic. Recent studies show that most Archean TTGs formed at relatively low pressures (≤1.5 GPa) and do not require subduction. We report a suite of newly discovered Eoarchean tonalitic gneisses dated at ~3.7 Ga from the Tarim Craton, northwestern China. These rocks are probably the oldest high-pressure TTGs so far documented worldwide. Thermodynamic and trace element modeling demonstrates that the parent magma may have been generated by water-fluxed partial melting of moderately enriched arc-like basalts at 1.8 to 1.9 GPa and 800° to 830°C, indicating an apparent geothermal gradient (400° to 450°C GPa-1) typical for hot subduction zones. They also locally record geochemical evidence for magma interaction with a mantle wedge. Accordingly, we propose that these high-pressure TTGs were generated by partial melting of ...Continue Reading

References

Jul 23, 2011·Science·Steven B Shirey, Stephen H Richardson
Mar 17, 2012·Science·Bruno DhuimeCraig D Storey
Feb 28, 2017·Nature·Tim E JohnsonR Hugh Smithies

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Citations

Mar 6, 2021·Scientific Reports·Juan David Hernández-MontenegroDavid Hernández-Uribe

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