Archean Eon - Earth Discover

This image displays the distinct stripes of iron-rich and silica-rich rocks, known as Banded Iron Formations, located at Fortescue Falls in Karijini National Park, Western Australia.

c. 3-1.8 Billion BCE: Decoding Banded Iron Formations – A Geological Mystery

Examines Banded Iron Formations (BIFs), which reveal early oxygenation events on Earth, linking them to the rise of oxygenic photosynthesis by cyanobacteria and the subsequent atmospheric changes.

This image shows the San Andreas fault in southern California, a well-known boundary between two of Earth's lithospheric plates: the Pacific and North American plates.

c. 4-3 Billion BCE: The Rise of Plate Tectonics – Shaping Earth’s Landscape

Examines the emergence of plate tectonics during the Hadean and Archean eons, detailing the transformation of Earth's crust and mantle, the formation of continents, and the division of the lithosphere and asthenosphere, leading to the [...]

This artist's conception illustrates the Archean Earth, a period characterized by stable liquid water, abundant heat and energy, and a growing accumulation of organic molecules, creating a fertile environment for the emergence of life.

c. 4–2.5 Billion BCE: The Archean Eon – Earth’s Dramatic Evolution

Explores the Archean Eon, a period marked by the formation of Earth's earliest continental crust and significant atmospheric changes. It highlights the rise of cyanobacteria and the onset of photosynthesis, setting the stage for more [...]

This artist's concept illustrates Earth at the transition from the Hadean to the Archean eon, depicting the time when liquid-water seas and oceans first stabilized on the surface. The image also shows large impact basins, similar to those on the Moon, indicating ongoing bombardment by asteroids and comets.

c. 4 Billion BCE: The Genesis of Earth’s Oceans – From the Hadean Eon to the Present

Explores the formation of Earth's oceans, tracing back to the Hadean eon's volcanic eruptions and gas emissions. It discusses how water transitioned from steam to liquid, the potential internal and external sources of water, and [...]