Article
Article
Archean
Article By:
Condie, Kent C. Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Socorro, New Mexico.
Last reviewed:October 2019
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1036/1097-8542.047750
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- Archean, published June 2014:Download PDF
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A period of geologic time from about 4000 to 2500 million years ago (MYA). During the Archean Eon (Fig. 1) a large percentage of the Earth's continental crust formed, plate tectonics began, very warm climates and oceans existed, and life appeared on Earth in the form of unicellular organisms.
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