Subaerial weathering drove stabilization of continents. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38720084/)

These scientists wanted to understand how Earth's continental crust, which is made of silica-rich rocks, became stable and habitable. They focused on a type of land called cratons, which are very old and strong pieces of the Earth's crust. They found that between 3 and 2.5 billion years ago, certain rocks with high levels of uranium, thorium, and potassium were formed, which helped stabilize the crust.

The scientists discovered that the process of subaerial weathering, which is when rocks are exposed to air and water on land, played a key role in creating these special rocks. This weathering caused certain elements to concentrate in sediments that were buried deep in the Earth's crust. Over time, these elements led to the melting of rocks and the formation of specific types of granitoid rocks, which helped make the crust stable.

By studying these processes, the scientists showed that the emergence of land above sea level triggered a series of events that ultimately led to the stabilization of the Earth's crust during a specific time period called the Neoarchaean. This study helps explain why certain parts of the Earth's crust, like cratons, became stable billions of years ago.

Reimink JR., Smye AJ. Subaerial weathering drove stabilization of continents. Nature. 2024 May;629(8012):609-615. doi: 10.1038/s41586-024-07307-1. Epub 2024 May 8.