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Coupled strontium-calcium isotopes in Archean anorthosites reveal a late start for mantle depletion

Author

Listed:
  • Matilda Boyce

    (The University of Western Australia)

  • Anthony Kemp

    (The University of Western Australia)

  • Chris Fisher

    (The University of Western Australia)

  • Dan Bevan

    (The University of Western Australia
    The University of Western Australia)

  • Aleksey Sadekov

    (The University of Western Australia)

  • Jamie Lewis

    (University of Bristol)

  • Simon Wilde

    (Curtin University)

  • Tim Ivanic

    (Geological Survey of Western Australia)

  • Tim Elliott

    (University of Bristol)

Abstract

Voluminous felsic continental crust is, as far as we know, unique to Earth, yet the timescales of its earliest growth remain debated. Archean mantle evolution is complementary to crustal growth but is largely unconstrained for strontium isotopes due widespread Rb-Sr disturbance. Here, we perform high spatial resolution radiogenic Sr and Ca isotope measurements in magmatic plagioclase megacrysts from 3.7–2.8 Ga Archean anorthosites and leucogabbros. We report mantle-like Ca isotope signatures and the most unradiogenic terrestrial 87Sr/86Sr ratio yet measured on Earth, in plagioclase (87Sr/86Srinitial = 0.700050 ± 0.000017, 95% confidence interval) from the 3.73 Ga Manfred Complex of the Narryer Terrane, Western Australia. These data are consistent with 87Sr/86Sr homogenisation between the Earth and Moon (87Sr/86Srinitial ≈ 0.699061) at ca. 4.515 Ga during the Moon-forming giant impact. The appearance of a depleted mantle signature in the terrestrial strontium record post-3.5 Ga suggests that extensive continental growth began relatively late.

Suggested Citation

  • Matilda Boyce & Anthony Kemp & Chris Fisher & Dan Bevan & Aleksey Sadekov & Jamie Lewis & Simon Wilde & Tim Ivanic & Tim Elliott, 2025. "Coupled strontium-calcium isotopes in Archean anorthosites reveal a late start for mantle depletion," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-11, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-64641-2
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-64641-2
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Alex N. Halliday, 2004. "Mixing, volatile loss and compositional change during impact-driven accretion of the Earth," Nature, Nature, vol. 427(6974), pages 505-509, February.
    2. Matthijs A. Smit & Kira A. Musiyachenko & Jeroen Goumans, 2024. "Author Correction: Archaean continental crust formed from mafic cumulates," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-1, December.
    3. Adrien Vezinet & Aleksandr V. Chugunov & Alexander V. Sobolev & Charitra Jain & Stephan V. Sobolev & Valentina G. Batanova & Evgeny V. Asafov & Alina N. Koshlyakova & Nicholas T. Arndt & Leonid V. Dan, 2025. "Growth of continental crust and lithosphere subduction in the Hadean revealed by geochemistry and geodynamics," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-18, December.
    4. Matthijs A. Smit & Kira A. Musiyachenko & Jeroen Goumans, 2024. "Archaean continental crust formed from mafic cumulates," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-8, December.
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