tectonic plates

Unearthing evidence for the origins of plate tectonics

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Minerals trapped inside tiny crystals that have survived the grinding of the continents over billions of years may help to reveal the origins of plate tectonics and perhaps even provide clues about how complex life sprang up on Earth.  The theory of plate tectonics – which describes how the Earth’s crust is separated into plates … Read more

Q&A: Plate tectonics is fundamental to understanding Earth’s evolution – but big questions remain

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The division of the Earth’s surface into seven major mobile plates is fundamental to our planet’s uniqueness, creating a habitable environment and possibly the conditions under which life itself originated. The theory of plate tectonics is 50 years old, but there are many puzzles left to answer, says Dr Kate Rychert, who studies the geology … Read more