The first crust of the earth was created around 4.5 billion years back. The group that carried the research analyzed the chemical composition of uncommon parts of lutetium and hafnium present within a mineral zircon of a meteorite. This meteorite is a part of the development of the early photovoltaic system.
Due to constant strain and warmth within the earth, the chemical compositions keep on mixing, forming layers over a span of billions of years. This happens because the rocks with dense compositions sink whereas with fewer dense minerals come up towards the floor. This process is in general known as differentiation.
Dr. Yuri Amelin who works with The Australian National Research School of Earth Sciences headed the research. He stated that the composition of the unique elements that formed layers due to differentiation within the meteorite was considered for studying the formation of the earth’s crust. The outcome of this study helped conclude the exact period when the crust of the earth was first formed.
Nature of the Earth’s Crust
The outermost layer that covers the earth is known as the crust. The crust of the earth is divided into 15 tectonic plates. These tectonic plates slide beneath the mantle which is a semi-solid magma material lying exactly beneath the earth’s crust. Tectonic plates are responsible for causing mountain formation, earthquakes, continental drift, volcanoes and other different types of geologic activities.
The center of the earth is extremely hot. It is mostly made up of metal core. It lacks water, air and moderate temperature and hence living organisms cannot survive within the core or the mantle. Billions of years back, earth has been just a gooey, hot ball made up of rocks. The composition mainly included some of the heaviest metals such as nickel and iron, which slowly sank to the core.
The chemical composition of meteorite reveals the exact age when the earth’s surface cooled, hardened and began to form the crust.
