Earth’s continental crust is a unique phenomenon among the known solar objects and its formation is fundamentally entwined with the evolution of our planet. The withdrawal of large volumes of granitic magma from the deep continental crust and its emplacement at higher structural levels has enriched the upper crust in incompatible and heat-producing elements, leaving the lower crust relatively mafic and refractory.
However, the mechanisms of how continental crust is formed and recycled and how these processes changed over Earth history remain highly debated.
What has been the rate of generation and growth of the continental crust through time? What has been the contribution to crustal growth from continental flood basalt provinces? What caused the diversification of granitoid rocks in the late Archean? What is the role of fractional crystallization in making intermediated to felsic rocks and the continental crust?
We invite abstracts that use geochemical methods to discuss questions related to the formation and evolution of the continental crust in the modern and in the past. Preference will be given to studies that address these topics by applying novel isotope systematics, a petrochronological approach and innovative techniques.

Solicited speaker: Oliver Jagoutz, MIT