Deep continental roots and cratons

Pearson, D. Graham; Scott, James M.; Liu, Jingao; Schaeffer, Andrew; Wang, Lawrence Hongliang; van Hunen, Jeroen; Szilas, Kristoffer; Chacko, Thomas; Keleman, Peter B.

Abstract

The formation and preservation of cratons - the oldest parts of the continents comprising over 60% of the continental landmass - remains an enduring problem. Key to craton development is how and when the thick strong mantle roots that underlie these regions formed and evolved. Peridotite melting residues forming cratonic lithospheric roots mostly originated via relatively low-pressure melting and were subsequently transported to greater depth by thickening produced by lateral accretion and compression. The longest-lived cratons assembled during Mesoarchean and Paleoproterozoic times, creating the 150 to 250 km thick, stable mantle roots that are critical to preserving Earth’s early continents and central to defining the cratons although we extend the definition of cratons to include extensive regions of long-stable Mesoproterzoic crust also underpinned by thick lithospheric roots. The production of widespread thick and strong lithosphere via the process of orogenic thickening, possibly in several cycles, was fundamental to the eventual emergence of extensive continental landmasses - the cratons.

Citation

Pearson, D. G., Scott, J. M., Liu, J., Schaeffer, A., Wang, L. H., van Hunen, J., …Keleman, P. B. (2021). Deep continental roots and cratons. Nature, 596(7871), 199-210. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-021-03600-5

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Apr 30, 2021
• Online Publication Date: Aug 11, 2021
• Publication Date: Aug 12, 2021
• Deposit Date: Jul 13, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Feb 11, 2022
• Journal: Nature
• Print ISSN: 0028-0836
• Electronic ISSN: 1476-4687
• Publisher: Nature Research
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 596
• Issue: 7871
• Pages: 199-210
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-021-03600-5
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1239757
• Publisher URL: https://www.nature.com/nature/research-articles