The formation of Archean lithotectonic blocks in non-plume environments: inferences on craton assembly and stabilization from the Pilbara Craton, Western Australia

Earth's oldest continental crust formed during the Hadean and Archean Eons (4.6–2.5 billion years ago). Most of this early crust has disappeared, leaving cratons—ancient, stable crustal cores—as remnants. Focusing on the Pilbara Craton in Australia, which dates back more than 3.6 billion years, this PhD thesis investigates three key stages in a craton's lifecycle: (1) crustal formation, (2) development of mobile, weaker regions between rigid crustal blocks, and (3) long-term stability. Using geochemical and isotopic data, this research elucidates the complex crust-mantle interchange that shaped Earth’s earliest continents, showing that even "stable" cratons are dynamic.