Wednesday, November 11, 2026
Science

Ancient rocks reveal when Earth's tectonic engine 'switched on'

Scientists have identified a major turning point in Earth's geological history, when the processes shaping the planet's crust changed dramatically and began to resemble the plate tectonics we see today—about 2.5 billion years ago.

Ancient rocks reveal when Earth's tectonic engine 'switched on'
Image: Phys.org
Scientists have identified a major turning point in Earth's geological history, when the processes shaping the planet's crust changed dramatically and began to resemble the plate tectonics we see today—about 2.5 billion years ago.

Originally published at Phys.org

The Morning Briefing

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Be the first to receive the latest news, market analysis and updates — delivered straight to your inbox.