Ancient rocks in northern China offer evidence of early Earth crust recycling
A study of 3.9-billion-year-old rocks in northern China found evidence that altered oceanic crust was buried and partly melted by about 3.95 billion years ago.
The researchers concluded that the rocks preserve evidence of rapid burial and partial melting of surface-altered oceanic crust. Their analysis also points to a mantle reservoir separated from the early mantle as early as 4.3 billion years ago.
The findings were reported in a Nature research paper summarized by the journal.