The Archean Earth: Tempos and Events, Second Edition is a process-based reference book focusing on the most important events on the early Earth, bringing together experts across Earth Sciences to give a comprehensive overview of the main events of the Archean Eon, as well as of the rates at which important geological and geobiological processes occurred in the same time interval. Over the last two decades, significant progress has been made in our understanding of the processes and events on the early Earth corresponding to advances in the analytical technologies and the continuing efforts of many colleagues that pursue their passion of unravelling the Archean rock record. The book addresses the origin of the Earth, succeeding impact events, and the evolution of the early Earth, covering topics such as Archean tectonics, volcanism, generation of continental crust, and the ongoing debate about the onset of plate tectonics; the evolution and models for Earth's hydrosphere and atmosphere; the Archean atmosphere and chemical sedimentation; and sedimentation through Archean time; among others. Each topic is well-illustrated and includes a closing commentary at the end of each chapter, leading up to the final chapter which blends the major geological events and rates at which important processes occurred into a synthesis, postulating a number of "event clusters" in the Archean when significant changes occurred in many natural systems and geological environments.With updated processes, dating information, case studies, and more, The Archean Earth is a necessary addition to the library of any Earth science academics, students and researchers focused on the early Earth.
Section 1. FORMATION OF A HABITABLE PLANET 1.1. Introduction 1.2. Earth's Formation and First Billion Years 1.3. The Terrestrial Record of The Late Heavy Bombardment 1.4. Earth’s Oldest Rocks: A Brief Overview About the Distribution of Archean Greenstone Belts 1.5. Lessons from Other Planetary Bodies and Extra-Solar Planets 1.6. Summary Section 2. ARCHEAN TECTONICS AND VOLCANISM 2.1. Introduction 2.2. Archean-Paleoproterozoic Superplume Events and Lips 2.3. Episodic Crustal Growth During Catastrophic Global-Scale Mantle Overturn Events 2.4. Onset of Plate Tectonics 2.5 Archean-Paleoproterozoic Continental Reconstructions 2.6. Archean Gold Mineralization 2.7. Komatiites: Volcanology, Geochemistry and Textures 2.8. Archean And Greenstone Belts: Setting and Evolution 2.9 Lessons from Planetary Volcanism 2.10. Summary Section 3. GENERATION OF CONTINENTAL CRUST 3.1. Introduction 3.2. Komatiite: Implications for Mantle Composition and Geodynamic Processes 3.3. Emergence of Subaerial Crust and Onset of Weathering 3.4. Composition of Early Continental Crust 3.5. Granite Formation and Emplacement as Indicators of Archaean Tectonic Processes 3.6. Diapiric Processes in The Formation of Archaean Continental Crust 3.7. Early Archaean Crustal Collapse Structures and Sedimentary Basin Dynamics 3.8. Crustal Growth Rates 3.9. Summary Section 4. ATMOSPHERIC EVOLUTION AND ENVIRONMENTS 4.1. Introduction 4.2. Archean Atmosphere, Hydrosphere and Biosphere Evolution: Insights from The Isotopic Record 4.3. The Sulphur Isotope Record of Evolving Atmospheric Oxygen 4.4. Banded Iron Formations 4.5. Archean Surface Environments 4.6. Archean Weathering and Climate 4.7. Summary Section 5. EVOLUTION OF LIFE AND ARCHEAN GEOBIOLOGY 5.1. Introduction 5.2. Biogenicity Criteria 5.3. Evidence of Earth's Early Biosphere (Case Studies) 5.3.1. Nuvvuagittuq Supracrustal Belt 5.3.2. Pilbara Craton 5.3.3. Barberton Greenstone Belt 5.3.4. Insights into The Palaeoarchaean Record of The Singhbhum Craton, India 5.4. Organic Origin of Archean Carbonates: Insights from Modern Microbial Analogues 5.5. Origin and Evolution of Photosynthesis: A Molecular Biology Approach 5.6. Earth First Carbonate Platform 5.7. Occurrence and Biogenicity Of Archean Stromatolites and Microbial Mats 5.7. Evolution of Earth's Biogeochemical Cycles 5.8. Organic Geochemical Approaches to Understanding Early Life 5.9. The Paleoarchean Microfossil Record – A Critical Review 5.10. Evolving Life and Its Effect on Precambrian Sedimentation 5.10. Summary Section 6. SEDIMENTATION THROUGH ARCHEAN TIME 6.1. Introduction 6.2. Sedimentary Structures: An Essential Key for Interpreting the Archean Rock Record 6.3. Archean Sedimentary Sequences 6.4. Precambrian Tidalites: Recognition and Significance 6.5 Sedimentary Dynamics of Precambrian Aeolianites & Archean Witnesses of Weather Phenomena 6.6. Archean Fluvial and Lacustrine Deposits 6.7. Microbial Mats in The Siliciclastic Rock Record: A Summary of Diagnostic Features 6.8. Sedimentation Rates 6.9. S Section 7. TOWARDS A SYNTHESIS
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