Evolution of the Continents and the Atmosphere Inferred from Th-U-Nb Systematics of the Depleted Mantle-Reference-Cited by-同舟云学术

Evolution of the Continents and the Atmosphere Inferred from Th-U-Nb Systematics of the Depleted Mantle

Published:1999-03-05 Issue:5407 Volume:283 Page:1519-1522
ISSN:0036-8075
Container-title:Science
language:en
Short-container-title:Science

Author:

Collerson Kenneth D.¹,Kamber Balz S.¹

Affiliation:

1. Department of Earth Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia. Both authors contributed equally to this publication.

Abstract

Temporal evolution of depleted mantle thorium-uranium-niobium systematics constrain the amount of continental crust present through Earth's history (through the niobium/thorium ratio) and date formation of a globally oxidizing atmosphere and hydrosphere at approximately 2.0 billion years ago (through the niobium/uranium ratio). Increase in the niobium/thorium ratio shows involvement of hydrated lithosphere in differentiation of Earth since approximately 3.8 billion years ago. After approximately 2.0 billion years ago, the decreasing mantle thorium/uranium ratio portrays mainly preferential recycling of uranium in an oxidizing atmosphere and hydrosphere. Net growth rate of continental crust has varied over time, and continents are still growing today.

Publisher

American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)

Subject

Multidisciplinary

Reference60 articles.

1. Niobium/Uranium Evidence for Early Formation of the Continental Crust

2. Armstrong R. L., Philos. Trans. R. Soc. London Ser. A 301, 443 (1981).

3. During partial melting of the mantle incompatible elements partition preferentially into the melt [

4. Chemical differentiation of the Earth: the relationship between mantle, continental crust, and oceanic crust

5. For relatively high melt fractions (for example melt generation at midocean ridges) the bulk distribution coefficients for Th U and Nb are very similar. Hence the ratios between these elements in melt products are similar to those in the source.

Cited by 212 articles. 订阅此论文施引文献订阅此论文施引文献，注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献，订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献

1. Geodiversification: The Evolution of Geodiversity Through Time;Geoheritage;2024-09

2. A protracted Mesoproterozoic carbon cycle perturbation in response to volcanism at ∼ 1.39 Ga;Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology;2024-09

3. Geochemistry of tourmaline-rich rocks in the Gavião Block, Northern São Francisco craton: implications for its formation;Mineralogy and Petrology;2024-03-15

4. Suggestion: The nature of the rock record: Through the lens of the rock cycle;Reference Module in Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences;2024

5. The use of geochemistry for placing constraints on mantle melting processes and the evolution of mantle heterogeneity;Reference Module in Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences;2024