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Evidence found on plate tectonics

Scientists now hypothesize that the Earth’s tectonic plates began moving about 3.8 billion years ago. This claim diverges from the previous finding that such movement began 2.5 billion years ago, which was based on a rock formation in China.

Scientists base their most recent estimate of 3.8 billion years on a rock formation in Greenland, called the Isua supracrustal belt. This rock formation is one of several ancient formations that survived the molten meltdown of the Earth’s early history.

The Isua supracrustal belt has cracks with volcanic rock inside. This finding suggests that the Isua supracrustal belt split billions of years ago and filled with magma from the ocean.

Gustaf Arrhenius, who is a...

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