Plate tectonics distinguishes Earth from the other terrestrial planets but its initiation mechanism and onset time are debated. We propose plate was initiated by deposition of magnetite-rich banded iron formations (BIFs) through biogeochemical cycling in Neoarchean oceans. In photic zone proto-continental margins, photoferrotrophic bacteria efficiently oxidized dissolved Fe(II) induced massive ...

The Zagros orogeny in Iran is associated with two successive geodynamic events during the Tertiary period, a Paleogene NE-directed regional crustal extension followed by a Miocene NW-directed regional crustal extension and a magmatic flare-up. The current study was undertaken to reanalyze previous structural work developed on the extensional Chapedony metamorphic core complex in Central Iran ex...

The Precambrian geological record shows peak of activity at 1.1, 1.9–2.1, 2.7 and 3.5 Ga, often associated with massive crustal production, orogenesis and supercontinent cycles. It has been suggested that these bursts of tectonic activity are due to mantle avalanche events, where accumulating subducted slabs periodically penetrate the 670 km discontinuity, and subsequent upwelling counterflow a...

Transform faults at mid-ocean ridges--one of the most striking, yet enigmatic features of terrestrial plate tectonics--are considered to be the inherited product of preexisting fault structures. Ridge offsets along these faults therefore should remain constant with time. Here, numerical models suggest that transform faults are actively developing and result from dynamical instability of constru...