Plate tectonic–like cycles since the Hadean: Initiated or inherited?

Abstract Interpretation of Earth's oldest preserved crustal archive, the Jack Hills zircon Western Australia, has been controversial in terms onset plate tectonics. We conduct time-series analysis on hafnium isotopes and reveal an array statistically significant cycles that are reminiscent plate-tectonic subduction. At face value, such may suggest early Earth conditions similar to those today—the uniformitarian hypothesis tectonics was essentially operational since “day one”. On other hand, context expected secular changes due planetary evolution geological observations, could instead imply modern subduction inherited mantle convective harmonics already facilitated by phase stagnant-lid delamination—the “lid-to-plates” hypothesis. Either way, any model for nature must incorporate operating during Hadean time, either initiation then or later inheritance preexisting convection.