Archean Geodynamics and Environments

About this book

The Archean Eon represents 1.3 Gyr of Earth's distant past, from about 3.8 Ga to 2.5 Ga – nearly one third of our planet's history. It was during the Archean that a regime of global geodynamics was established, resulting in the formation and recycling of the first lithosphere, as well as the formation, growth, deformation, differentiation, emergence, and erosion of continents. By the end of the Archean, Earth had reached a geodynamic regime dominated by plate tectonic processes. The consequent environments, at and near Earth's surface, included the different niches within which early life forms evolved. It is to the Archean evolution of Earth that we now look to better understand many of the processes that shaped the planet, as we know it.

Contents

Preface
      Keith Benn, Jean-Claude Mareschal, and Kent C. Condie vii
Introduction: Archean Geodynamics and Environments
      Keith Benn, Jean-Claude Mareschal, and Kent C. Condie 1

Global Context
Archean Geodynamics and the Thermal Evolution of Earth
      Jun Korenaga 7
Continental Growth and the Archean Paradox
      A. Lenardic 33
Archean Geodynamics: Similar to or Different From Modern Geodynamics?
      Kent C. Condie and Keith Benn 47

Thermomechanical Evolution of Continents
Archean Thermal Regime and Stabilization of the Cratons
      Jean-Claude Mareschal and Claude Jaupart 61
Creation and Preservation of Cratonic Lithosphere: Seismic Constraints and Geodynamic Models
      C. M. Cooper, A. Lenardic, A. Levander, and L. Moresi 75
Geochemical/Petrologic Constraints on the Origin of Cratonic Mantle
      Cin-Ty Aeolus Lee 89
Crustal Ductility and Early Continental Tectonophysics
      R. G Bailey 115
Thermal and Mechanical Controls on the Evolution of Archean Crustal Deformation: Examples From Western Australia
      Simon Bodorkos and Mike Sandiford 131

Subduction
Experimental Constraints on TTG Petrogenesis: Implications for Archean Geodynamics
      Jean-Frangois Moyen and Gary Stevens 149
Geodynamic Modeling of Late Archean Subduction: Pressure-Temperature Constraints From Greenstone Belt Diamond Deposits
      C. O'Neill and D. A. Wyman 1 77
Reading the Geochemical Fingerprints of Archean Hot Subduction Volcanic Rocks: Evidence for Accretion and Crustal Recycling in a Mobile Tectonic Regime
      A. Polat and R. Kerrich 189
Late-Archean Convergent Margin Volcanism in the Superior Province: A Comparison of the Blake River Group and Confederation Assemblage
      D. A. Wyman and P. Hoilings 215

Orogenies
High-Pressure Intermediate-Temperature Metamorphism in the Southern Barberton Granitoid-Greenstone Terrain, South Africa: A Consequence of Subduction-Driven Overthickening and Collapse of Mid-Archean Continental Crust
      Johann Diener, Gary Stevens, and Alex Kisters 239
Reflections of the Neoarchean: A Global Perspective
      Arie J. van der Velden, Frederick A. Cook, Barry J. Drummond, and Bruce R. Goleby 255
Tectonic Delamination of the Lower Crust During Late Archean Collision of the Abitibi-Opatica and Pontiac Terranes, Superior Province, Canada
      Keith Benn 267

Biogeochemical Environments and Life
The Early Record of Life
      Frances Westall and Gordon Southam 283
Biogeochemical Cycles of Sulfur and Nitrogen in the Archean Ocean and Atmosphere
      Yanan Shen, Daniele L. Pinti, and Ko Hashizume 305

Customer Reviews