A recent study published in Nature Geoscience reveals that Earth's continents became stable due to extremely high temperatures exceeding 900°C in the lower crust, which facilitated the redistribution of radioactive elements like uranium and thorium.

This discovery challenges previous assumptions that crust melting occurred at around 650°C, emphasizing that much higher temperatures were involved in forming stable continental crust, especially during Earth's early history.

Analysis of rock samples from the Alps and southwestern U.S. indicated that rocks melted above 900°C had lower uranium and thorium concentrations, leading to a reassessment of earlier models about crust temperature variations.

Lead researcher Andrew Smye compared the stabilization process to forging steel, where extreme heat softens and reshapes material, strengthening the crust against tectonic forces.

Overall, this research advances our understanding of how Earth's continental crust has remained stable for billions of years, with significant implications for planetary habitability and mineral resource discovery.

Understanding these ultra-high temperature reactions can improve mineral exploration by providing insights into the distribution of critical elements within Earth's crust.

These processes also mobilized valuable rare earth elements such as lithium, tin, and tungsten, which are essential for modern technologies like smartphones, electric vehicles, and renewable energy.

The study's implications extend beyond Earth, as similar high-temperature processes might operate on other Earth-like planets, offering new signs to look for in assessing habitability and potential for life.

The mobilization of rare earth elements during crust formation has provided valuable insights into mineral deposits and potential locations for critical mineral exploration.