1

Origin of Earth/ Hadean Eon

Brad Hubeny

The Precambrian

Precambrian Cratons and Shields The Big Band & Origin of Universe~13.7 Billion Years Ago

Origin of the SolarSystem: The

Nebular Hypothesis

4.56 Ga BP

The Nebular Cloud and DifferentInitial Compositions

2

Evolution of Early Earth The Moon • Formed 4.5 Ga• Similar in

Composition toMantle: So What?!?

• Lightly-CrateredMaria younger than3.8 Ga: So What?!?

The Moon’s Origin (4.5 Ga)The Early Earth

Why Oceanic Crust in Hadean? How old is the crust?

Acasta Gneiss, SlaveProvince, NWT

Zircon Crystal:4.2 Ga BP(Iizuka et al., 2006)

3

Jack Hills, W. Australia (4.4-4.5Ga!!)