Earth's Plate Tectonics: A Recent Fundamental Shift

A recent study from the University of Copenhagen suggests that Earth's plate tectonics may be a more recent phenomenon, with the mantle previously stratified into upper and lower regions that were isolated from each other. The researchers developed a new method to measure the isotopic composition of titanium in rocks, which allowed them to trace the recycling of surface material in Earth's mantle over billions of years. The findings indicate that the lower mantle could contain undisturbed primordial material, potentially providing insights into Earth's original composition and the source of volatiles essential for life.