"Scientists Uncover Origins of Earth's Indestructible Continents"

Researchers at Penn State have discovered that ancient weathering processes played a crucial role in the formation and stabilization of Earth's cratons, the most indestructible parts of the planet's crust, during the Neoarchaean era. This weathering released heat-producing elements that, when buried and heated, led to the differentiation and stabilization of the continental crust, explaining the resilience of cratons and their importance in hosting valuable mineral deposits.