The stabilization of the first cratons and the initiation of plate tectonics are key phases in Earth’s evolution. Both are considered fundamental milestones that facilitated the emergence of complex life on Earth. Despite much research, major relevant questions remain on how, when, and why plate tectonics process was initiated on Earth. The geological record is known to be biased, especially with regards to high- to ultra-high-pressure metamorphic rocks, such as blueschist and eclogite, which are prone to being lost from the Precambrian rock record due to tectonic overprinting and erosion. However, high- to ultra-high-pressure rocks are one of the key components for understanding one of the most fundamental questions of geoscience: how, when, and why plate tectonics initiate. To avoid preservation bias of the geological record and to study the metamorphic and tectonic evolution through time, accessory minerals from sediments, like rutile, can be used as proxies, as they provide an archive of tectonic processes.
Venue
Seminar rooms
If you are external to the Department of Earth Sciences and wish to receive information about departmental seminars please join our mailing list by sending a message to: earth_sciences_seminar-request@maillist.ox.ac.uk
