Geoscientists Discover Gradual Formation of Earth's Crust and Tectonic Plates

Research led by geoscientists at Penn State suggests that the Earth's crust underwent a slow process of reworking over billions of years, contradicting existing theories of rapid tectonic plate formation. By analyzing over 600,000 rock samples, researchers developed a unique method to determine how igneous rocks were reformed and recalibrated the crustal growth curve. The study indicates a correlation between the Earth's crust and the underlying mantle, providing insights into the evolution of planets and potentially informing investigations of other celestial bodies like Venus.