Archaean Plate Tectonics (IMAGE)

University of the Witwatersrand

Archaean Plate Tectonics

Caption

A diagrammatic representation of the Earth in the Archaean showing subducted ocean floor carrying its chemical signature into the deep mantle. The signature which includes water and chlorine is preserved in melt inclusions contained within olivine and carried back up to surface within komatiite lava flows.

Credit

Figure created by research team for news release. Wits University

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