Study links early asteroid impacts to delayed continent formation
New research suggests that frequent asteroid impacts during Earth's Hadean period injected enough heat into the mantle to delay the formation of stable continents. The study indicates that these impacts kept the early crust molten and unstable for longer than previously assumed.
Why it matters
Provides new insights into the geological history of Earth and the fundamental processes that shaped the planet's surface.
New research led by Curtin University and QUT suggests repeated asteroid impacts during the Hadean period more than four billion years ago delivered significant heat into Earth’s interior, delaying the formation of stable continents.
Scientific reporting based on peer-reviewed research findings.
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