Hadean zircon from a 3.3 Ga sandstone, Barberton greenstone belt, South Africa

Byerly, Benjamin L.; Lowe, Donald R.; Drabon, Nadja; Coble, Matthew A.; Burns, Dale H.; Byerly, Gary R.

doi:10.1130/g45276.1

Cited by 28 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…Zircons used for this study were previously dated by Drabon et al (2021) (Data Sets S1 and S2 in Supporting Information S1; for methodology see original manuscripts) and Byerly et al (2018) and were obtained from the GSB type locality S25°54'33.11" and E31° 2'42.35") and a second locality further west (NAD-180; S25°53'56.50" and E31° 2'2.13"; Figure 1b). We analyzed these zircons for their Lu-Hf isotope (Data Sets S3-S5 in Supporting Information S1), TREE geochemical (Data Set S6 in Supporting Information S1), and O isotope compositions (Data Set S7 in Supporting Information S1).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The Hadean to Paleoarchean crustal record is sparse, and the Jack Hills detrital zircon record often dominates the discussion of crust formation on the early Earth. A new location with relatively abundant Hadean zircons is the 3.31 Ga Green Sandstone Bed (GSB), South Africa, which has undergone lower grade metamorphism than all other known Hadean detrital zircon localities (Byerly et al., 2018; Drabon et al., 2021; R. R. Fu et al., 2021). The GSB zircons provide a unique record of the early Earth to test the robustness of crustal evolution models.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Sample NAD‐106 was taken from the GSB type locality and corresponds to sample numbers SA 22 and SA 51 of Byerly et al. (2018) Sample NAD‐180 was taken from a second locality which corresponds to SA 811 of Byerly et al. (2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…(2018) Sample NAD‐180 was taken from a second locality which corresponds to SA 811 of Byerly et al. (2018). (c) Probability density plots (PDPs) of 207 Pb/ 206 Pb detrital zircon geochronology from different stratigraphic intervals of the GSB.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Destabilization of Long‐Lived Hadean Protocrust and the Onset of Pervasive Hydrous Melting at 3.8 Ga

Drabon

Byerly

et al. 2022

AGU Advances

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The nature of Earth's earliest crust and crustal processes remain unresolved questions in Precambrian geology. While some hypotheses suggest that plate tectonics began in the Hadean, others suggest that the Hadean was characterized by long‐lived protocrust and an absence of significant plate tectonic processes. Recently proposed trace‐element proxies for the tectono‐magmatic settings in which zircons formed are a relatively novel tool to understand crustal processes in the past. Here, we present high‐spatial resolution zircon trace and rare earth element geochemical data along with Hf and O isotope data of a new location with Hadean materials, 4.1–3.3 Ga detrital zircons from the 3.31 Ga Green Sandstone Bed, Barberton Greenstone Belt. Together, the hafnium isotope and trace element geochemistry of the detrital zircons record a major transition in crustal processes. Zircons older than 3.8 Ga show evidence for isolated, long‐lived protocrust derived by reworking of relatively undepleted mantle sources with limited remelting of surface‐altered material. After 3.8 Ga, Hf isotopic evidence for this protocrust is muted while relatively juvenile source components for the zircon's parental magmas and flux‐like melting signatures become more prominent. This shift mirrors changes in Hf isotopes and trace element geochemistry in other Archean terranes between ∼3.8 and 3.6 Ga and supports the notion that the global onset of pervasive crustal instability and recycling—A possible sign for mobile‐lid tectonics—Occurred in that time period.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Destabilization of Long‐Lived Hadean Protocrust and the Onset of Pervasive Hydrous Melting at 3.8 Ga

Drabon

Byerly

et al. 2022

AGU Advances

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“…The abundant occurrence of Hadean detrital zircon is limited in ca. 3.0-3.3 Ga sandstone and quartzose clastic rocks (Froude et al, 1983;Compston and Pidgeon, 1986;Wilde et al, 2001;Cavosie et al, 2007;Nebel et al, 2014;Valley et al, 2014;Nelson, 2002;Wyche et al, 2004;GSWA;2005;Wyche, 2007;Paquette et al, 2015;Byerly et al, 2018), even though many odd localities have been reported (Mojzsis and Harrison, 2002;Iizuka et al, 2006;Martel et al, 2008;Diwu et al, 2013;Nadeau et al, 2013;Cui et al, 2013;Xing et al, 2014;Li et al, 2016).…”

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confidence: 99%

Estimation of Secular Change in the Size of Continents for Understanding Early Crustal Development

Sawada

2020

Front. Earth Sci.

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The size of continents is an essential parameter to understand the growth of the continental crust and the evolution of the solid Earth because it is subject to tectonism and mantle convection and affects the preservation of the crust. This article reviews the secular change in the size of continents on the early Earth, focusing on terrigenous clastic rocks, especially quartzose sandstones occurring on relatively large continents. The earliest continental crust in the Hadean or early Archean was produced with a width of ∼200–500 km, similar to modern oceanic island arcs along subduction zones or oceanic islands in hot spot regions by mantle plume heating. Through the collision and amalgamation of such primitive continental crusts, continental blocks over 500 km in width and length evolved and appeared by ca. 3.5 Ga. Through further amalgamation, during ca. 3.3–2.5 Ga, the Archean continents emerged with widths and lengths greater than 1,000 km, which were still smaller than those of modern continents. Continents with widths and lengths of nearly 10,000 km have existed since ca. 2.4 Ga (early Proterozoic). Further analyses of the composition and formation mechanism of clastic rocks will help reveal more quantitative secular changes in the sizes of continents.

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Hadean Zircons Elsewhere in the Solar System

Harrison

2020

Hadean Earth

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Hadean zircon from a 3.3 Ga sandstone, Barberton greenstone belt, South Africa

Cited by 28 publications

References 30 publications

Destabilization of Long‐Lived Hadean Protocrust and the Onset of Pervasive Hydrous Melting at 3.8 Ga

Destabilization of Long‐Lived Hadean Protocrust and the Onset of Pervasive Hydrous Melting at 3.8 Ga

Estimation of Secular Change in the Size of Continents for Understanding Early Crustal Development

Hadean Zircons Elsewhere in the Solar System

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