Hadean geodynamics inferred from time-varying 142Nd/144Nd in the early Earth rock record

TY - JOUR

T1 - Hadean geodynamics inferred from time-varying 142Nd/144Nd in the early Earth rock record

AU - Saji, N.s.

AU - Larsen, K.

AU - Wielandt, D.

AU - Schiller, M.

AU - Costa, M.m.

AU - Whitehouse, M.j.

AU - Rosing, M.t.

AU - Bizzarro, M.

PY - 2018

Y1 - 2018

N2 - Tracking the secular evolution of 142Nd/144Nd anomalies is important towards understanding the crust-mantle dynamics in the early Earth. Excessive scatter in the published data, however, precludes identifying the fine structure of 142Nd/144Nd evolution as the expected variability is on the order of few parts per million. We report ultra-high precision 142Nd/144Nd data for Eoarchean and Palaeoarchean rocks from the Isua Supracrustal Belt (SW Greenland) that show a well-resolved 142Nd/144Nd temporal variability suggesting progressive convective homogenisation of the Hadean Isua depleted mantle. This temporally decreasing 142Nd/144Nd signal provides a direct measure of early mantle dynamics, defining a stirring timescale of <250 Myr consistent with vigorous convective stirring in the early mantle. The 142Nd/144Nd evolution suggests protracted crustal residence times of ∼1000-2000 Myr, inconsistent with modern-style plate tectonics in the Archean. In contrast, a stagnant-lid regime punctuated by episodes of mantle overturns accounts for the long life-time estimated here for the Hadean proto-crust.

AB - Tracking the secular evolution of 142Nd/144Nd anomalies is important towards understanding the crust-mantle dynamics in the early Earth. Excessive scatter in the published data, however, precludes identifying the fine structure of 142Nd/144Nd evolution as the expected variability is on the order of few parts per million. We report ultra-high precision 142Nd/144Nd data for Eoarchean and Palaeoarchean rocks from the Isua Supracrustal Belt (SW Greenland) that show a well-resolved 142Nd/144Nd temporal variability suggesting progressive convective homogenisation of the Hadean Isua depleted mantle. This temporally decreasing 142Nd/144Nd signal provides a direct measure of early mantle dynamics, defining a stirring timescale of <250 Myr consistent with vigorous convective stirring in the early mantle. The 142Nd/144Nd evolution suggests protracted crustal residence times of ∼1000-2000 Myr, inconsistent with modern-style plate tectonics in the Archean. In contrast, a stagnant-lid regime punctuated by episodes of mantle overturns accounts for the long life-time estimated here for the Hadean proto-crust.

U2 - 10.7185/geochemlet.1818

DO - 10.7185/geochemlet.1818

M3 - Journal article

SN - 2410-3403

VL - 7

SP - 43

EP - 48

JO - Geochemical Perspectives Letters

JF - Geochemical Perspectives Letters

ER -