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Title: $Archean and Proterozoic crustal evolution: Evidence from crustal seismology
Abstract: Research Article| June 01, 1991 Archean and Proterozoic crustal evolution: Evidence from crustal seismology Raymond J. Durrheim; Raymond J. Durrheim 1Geophysics Department, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Wits 2050, South Africa Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Walter D. Mooney Walter D. Mooney 2U.S. Geological Survey, 345 Middlefield Road, MS 977, Menlo Park, California 94025 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Raymond J. Durrheim 1Geophysics Department, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Wits 2050, South Africa Walter D. Mooney 2U.S. Geological Survey, 345 Middlefield Road, MS 977, Menlo Park, California 94025 Publisher: Geological Society of America First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 Geological Society of America Geology (1991) 19 (6): 606–609. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1991)019<0606:AAPCEE>2.3.CO;2 Article history First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation Raymond J. Durrheim, Walter D. Mooney; Archean and Proterozoic crustal evolution: Evidence from crustal seismology. Geology 1991;; 19 (6): 606–609. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1991)019<0606:AAPCEE>2.3.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract Seismic-velocity models for Archean and Proterozoic provinces throughout the world are analyzed. The thickness of the crust in Archean provinces is generally found to be about 35 km (except at collisional boundaries), whereas Proterozoic crust has a significantly greater thickness of about 45 km and has a substantially thicker high-velocity (>7.0 km/s) layer at the base. We consider two models that may explain these differences. The first model attributes the difference to a change in the composition of the upper mantle. The higher temperatures in the Archean mantle led to the eruption of komatiitic lavas, resulting in an ultradepleted lithosphere unable to produce significant volumes of basaltic melt. Proterozoic crust developed above fertile mantle, and subsequent partial melting resulted in basaltic underplating and crustal inflation. In the second model, convection in the hot Archean mantle is considered to have been too turbulent to sustain stable long-lived subduction zones. By the Proterozoic the mantle had cooled sufficiently for substantial island and continental arcs to be constructed, and the high-velocity basal layer was formed by basaltic underplating. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.