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Pilbara Craton

All articles tagged with #pilbara craton

science1 year ago

"Uncovering Ancient Biomass Clues with High-Resolution Techniques"

Researchers using high-resolution techniques have analyzed 3.5 billion-year-old rocks from the Pilbara Craton in Western Australia, revealing new clues about the formation and composition of ancient biomass. The study provides insights into the earliest ecosystems on Earth and suggests that original traces of the first organisms can still be found in extremely old material. The research, published in Precambrian Research, utilized methods such as nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and near-edge X-ray Absorption Fine Structure to analyze carbonaceous particles, shedding light on the history of their deposition and origin.

earth-science2 years ago

Swift and Surprising: The Speed of Early Plate Tectonics

A new study led by Dr. Jennifer Kasbohm of Yale reveals that the Pilbara Craton, an early continent, moved at a rapid pace of up to 64 centimeters (25 inches) per year around 2.7 billion years ago. By analyzing ancient magnetic fields and dating rocks from Western Australia, the researchers aimed to understand the nature of plate tectonics during the Archean eon. The findings suggest that early plate tectonics may have been faster due to the hotter mantle and its impact on mantle convection. The study, which took a decade to complete, provides valuable insights into the movement of ancient continents and the evolution of Earth's tectonic processes.