Abstract Geological data imply plate tectonics was not active on the Archaean Earth pre-2.5 ​Ga. Key arguments include: the absence from the Archaean rock record of ophiolites and high-pressure metamorphic rocks; the rarity of Archaean andesites and lahars; the absence of arc-like, source-metasomatic, trace element signatures in Archaean calc-alkaline magmatic suites; and fundamental differences in overall structural style and constituent lithologies. Conversely, unstable stagnant-lid models better account for many features of Archaean geology. Thermo-mechanical models imply many unstable stagnant-lid planets would experience mobile-lid phases linked to periodic mantle overturns of 30–100 million years duration, separated by stable-lid phases lasting 100–300 My. Mantle overturn upwelling zones would be characterized by high magma fluxes that may have generated continental nuclei, and would have reworked and resurfaced tracts of pre-existing oceanic and continental lithosphere. Overturns would also have generated large-scale lateral mantle flow patterns that would have pushed against the sub-continental lithospheric mantle keels underlying continents, and so induced continental drift and orogenesis, allowing mobile-lid behaviour despite the absence of plate-boundary forces such as slab pull. Major resurfacing of Earth’s surface during overturns would have heated the hydrosphere and atmosphere, with many negative impacts on biota. The high magmatic fluxes associated with mantle overturn events are likely to have induced periodic mass extinctions that may have retarded biological evolution on Earth. Evolutionary progress towards more complex metazoan organisms may only have been possible after the more efficient plate tectonic cooling system helped create a stabler, more temperate planet; although causal relationships remain uncertain. Did the start of a plate tectonic, mobile-lid cooling system on Earth gradually end (or moderate) mantle overturn behaviour? Or was the world-girdling plate tectonic system only allowed to begin because ‘other factors’ gradually acted to suppress mantle overturns during the Proterozoic? These ‘other factors’ include: secular decay of radioactive isotopes, scavenging of radioactive elements into continents, and shrinkage of the fertile lower mantle reservoir that fed early overturns. When overturn behaviour ended on Earth is also uncertain. The 2.1–1.9 ​Ga magmatic and tectonic pulse on Earth is plausibly interpreted as an Archaean-style mantle overturn, but more research is needed to determine whether the Large Igneous Provinces (LIPs) of the Meso- and Neo-Proterozoic are as well. It is predicted that Earth-sized exoplanets with surface water and chondritic mantle compositions will spend at least the first 2 ​Ga of their evolution as unstable stagnant-lid planets, with periodic overturns preventing evolution of complex metazoan organisms. Many such planets could remain trapped in this cooling mode, with only rare cases transitioning into the more efficient plate tectonic cooling mode. If correct, this greatly decreases the probability that complex metazoans are present elsewhere in the universe.

中文翻译：

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来自连环杀手的嘴唇：不稳定的停滞盖行星上生物进化的内源性延迟

摘要 地质数据表明，在 2.5 Ga 之前的太古宙地球上，板块构造并不活跃。主要论点包括：太古代岩石记录中没有蛇绿岩和高压变质岩；太古代安山岩和火山岩的稀有性；太古代钙碱性岩浆岩套中不存在弧状、源交代、微量元素特征；整体构造风格和组成岩性的根本差异。相反，不稳定的停滞盖模型可以更好地解释太古代地质的许多特征。热力学模型意味着许多不稳定的静止盖行星将经历与持续时间为 30-1 亿年的周期性地幔翻转相关的移动盖阶段，由持续 100-300 My 的稳定盖阶段分隔。地幔翻转上升流区的特点是可能产生大陆核的高岩浆通量，并将重新加工和重新浮出先前存在的海洋和大陆岩石圈。翻转还会产生大规模的横向地幔流动模式，这些流动模式会推动大陆下方的次大陆岩石圈地幔龙骨，从而引起大陆漂移和造山作用，尽管没有板块边界力，例如板拉。翻覆期间地球表面的主要表面重修会加热水圈和大气，对生物群产生许多负面影响。与地幔翻转事件相关的高岩浆通量可能导致周期性的大规模灭绝，这可能会阻碍地球上的生物进化。只有在更有效的板块构造冷却系统帮助创造了一个更稳定、更温和的星球之后，才有可能朝着更复杂的后生动物进化。尽管因果关系仍然不确定。地球上板块构造移动盖冷却系统的开始是否逐渐结束（或适度）地幔翻转行为？还是环世界的板块构造系统只是因为“其他因素”在元古代期间逐渐抑制地幔翻转才被允许开始？这些“其他因素”包括：放射性同位素的长期衰变，放射性元素被清除到大陆中，以及滋养早期翻转的肥沃的下地幔储层的收缩。地球上的倾覆行为何时结束也不确定。2.1-1。9 地球上的 Ga 岩浆和构造脉冲被合理地解释为太古代风格的地幔翻转，但需要更多的研究来确定中和新元古代的大型火成岩省 (LIP) 是否也是如此。据预测，具有地表水和球粒状地幔成分的地球大小的系外行星将作为不稳定的停滞盖行星至少花费其进化的前 2 Ga，周期性的翻转会阻止复杂的后生生物进化。许多这样的行星可能仍被困在这种冷却模式中，只有极少数情况下会转变为更有效的板块构造冷却模式。如果正确，这将大大降低复杂后生动物存在于宇宙其他地方的可能性。但需要更多的研究来确定中、新元古代的大型火成岩省 (LIPs) 是否也是如此。据预测，具有地表水和球粒状地幔成分的地球大小的系外行星将作为不稳定的停滞盖行星至少花费其进化的前 2 Ga，周期性的翻转会阻止复杂的后生生物进化。许多这样的行星可能仍被困在这种冷却模式中，只有极少数情况下会转变为更有效的板块构造冷却模式。如果正确，这将大大降低复杂后生动物存在于宇宙其他地方的可能性。但需要更多的研究来确定中、新元古代的大型火成岩省 (LIPs) 是否也是如此。据预测，具有地表水和球粒状地幔成分的地球大小的系外行星将作为不稳定的停滞盖行星至少花费其进化的前 2 Ga，周期性的翻转会阻止复杂的后生生物进化。许多这样的行星可能仍被困在这种冷却模式中，只有极少数情况下会转变为更有效的板块构造冷却模式。如果正确，这将大大降低复杂后生动物存在于宇宙其他地方的可能性。据预测，具有地表水和球粒状地幔成分的地球大小的系外行星将作为不稳定的停滞盖行星至少花费其进化的前 2 Ga，周期性的翻转会阻止复杂的后生生物进化。许多这样的行星可能仍被困在这种冷却模式中，只有极少数情况下会转变为更有效的板块构造冷却模式。如果正确，这将大大降低复杂后生动物存在于宇宙其他地方的可能性。据预测，具有地表水和球粒状地幔成分的地球大小的系外行星将作为不稳定的停滞盖行星至少花费其进化的前 2 Ga，周期性的翻转会阻止复杂的后生生物进化。许多这样的行星可能仍被困在这种冷却模式中，只有极少数情况下会转变为更有效的板块构造冷却模式。如果正确，这将大大降低复杂后生动物存在于宇宙其他地方的可能性。