Large-scale crustal growth driven by LIP magmatism during the Paleoproterozoic

Abstract

Abstract The evolution of Earth’s continental crust is crucial for understanding geodynamics, climate regulation, and the origins of life. The Paleoproterozoic, marked by the Great Oxidation Event and the consolidation of plate tectonics, was a critical interval for continental growth. While arc magmatism dominates crust formation in the Phanerozoic, its role in earlier Earth history remains uncertain. Three silicic LIPs in the Amazon Craton were emplaced at regular ~90-100 million-year intervals (1980 Ma, 1880 Ma, and 1790 Ma), producing high-temperature (>750 °C) silicic magmas derived from lower crust ( ~ 45 km thick). Our findings demonstrate that LIPs contributed significantly to continental crustal growth through deep-crustal partial melting of Archean-Rhyacian crust. We highlight that silicic LIP magmatism was a fundamental driver of continental differentiation and long-term stability during the Paleoproterozoic.