Tag Archives: Plate Tectonics

Tall, rugged peaks near the village of Saranpaul in central Russia showcase the enduring youthfulness of the ancient Ural Mountains.
c. 320 Million BCE: The Enduring Ural Mountains – Asia’s Ancient Peaks

Examines the Ural Mountains' formation and endurance, highlighting their unique geological history that has protected them from the tectonic activities and erosions that typically diminish ancient ranges, allowing them to maintain significant heights even today

This satellite image shows the ancient, folded, and eroded remnants of the Appalachian Mountains, depicted as brown bands, in the northeastern United States. New York City is visible just above the center right of the image.
c. 480 Million BCE: The Geological History of the Appalachian Mountains

Examines the formation and evolution of the Appalachian Mountains, tracing their origins to multiple plate collisions starting around 480 million years ago and discussing their transformation from towering peaks to the more subdued landscapes seen [...]

This image shows a glacially smoothed section of Archean greenstone, originally basaltic pillow lava, from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, spanning approximately 10 feet (3 meters) across.
c. 3.5 Billion BCE: Unraveling the Mysteries of Greenstone Belts

Explores greenstone belts, key geological features from the Archean eon, highlighting their role in the growth of continental crust and their significance in understanding Earth's early history.

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 [...]