Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Diversity of Protists III

Diversity of Protists III

Rhizaria are a diverse group of unicellular protists characterized by their threadlike cytoplasmic extensions known as pseudopodia. These structures aid in both locomotion and feeding, giving Rhizaria an amoeboid appearance. Their amoeboid morphology once led to taxonomic confusion, but molecular phylogenetics has clarified their evolutionary placement and emphasized their shared use of pseudopodia despite divergent lineages.This clade comprises diverse lineages such as Chlorarachniophyta,...

The Soil Ecosystem

The Soil Ecosystem

Plants obtain inorganic minerals and water from the soil, which acts as a natural medium for land plants. The composition and quality of soil depend not only on the chemical constituents but also on the presence of living organisms. In general, soils contain three major components:

Regional Terms

Regional Terms

Regional terms describe anatomy by dividing the body parts into different regions that contain structures involved in contributing similar functions. Using these terms helps increase the accurate description and identification of the particular region of interest or region affected by the disease.
Primarily, the human body has two major regions, the axial and appendicular regions. The axial region comprises regions from the head to the abdomen and makes up the central body axis. In contrast,...

Water and Mineral Acquisition

Water and Mineral Acquisition

Specialized tissues in plant roots have evolved to capture water, minerals, and some ions from the soil. Roots exhibit a variety of branching patterns that facilitate this process. The outermost root cells have specialized structures called root hairs that increase the root surface, thus increasing soil contact. Water can passively cross into roots, as the concentration of water in the soil is higher than that of the root tissue. Minerals, in contrast, are actively transported into root cells.

Minerals

Minerals

Minerals are essential nutrients that the human body needs in small amounts to work properly. They play a vital role in many bodily functions, such as building strong bones and transmitting nerve impulses. Some minerals are needed for hormone production or to maintain a normal heartbeat. Major minerals include calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sulfur, sodium, chlorine, and magnesium, while trace minerals include iron, manganese, copper, iodine, zinc, cobalt, fluoride, and selenium.

Major...

Diversity of Archaea III

Diversity of Archaea III

Crenarchaeota, a prominent phylum of Archaea, is remarkable for its ability to thrive in extreme environments characterized by high temperatures and acidity. These microorganisms inhabit sulfuric hot springs, volcanic systems, and submarine hydrothermal vents, where temperatures often exceed 100°C. The unique adaptations of Crenarchaeota not only allow survival under such extreme conditions but also provide insights into the mechanisms of life in primordial Earth-like...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Nanometric mineral inclusions from a fluid-rich diamond: identification, structure, and implications for deep Earth.

Nature communications·2026

Same author

Sublithospheric diamond constraints on the state of deeply subducted slabs.

Science advances·2026

Same author

Olivine and Fe-isotopes in kimberlites indicate an iron-rich substrate for CLIPPIR and other sub-lithospheric diamonds.

Nature communications·2026

Same author

Active conversion of atmospheric carbon dioxide to methane in peridotites of the Samail Ophiolite, Oman.

Scientific reports·2026

Same author

Mode of intracontinental mountain building controlled by lower crustal composition and mantle lithosphere depletion.

Nature communications·2025

Same author

Onset of slab mantle melting in Earth's lower mantle: Evidence from ferropericlase in superdeep diamonds.

Science advances·2025

Same journal

Keep the Hubble and James Webb Space Telescopes alive - the science is worth the price tag.

Nature·2026

Same journal

Say hello to hard helium.

Nature·2026

Same journal

How to avoid dementia - what the science really says.

Nature·2026

Same journal

Save Hubble: the race to preserve the space telescope kicks off.

Nature·2026

Same journal

How long can humans live? All evidence points to a maximum of 125 years.

Nature·2026

Same journal

Listen to Gen Z when it comes to AI in education.

Nature·2026

See all related articles

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 25, 2025

Kinematic History of a Salient-recess Junction Explored through a Combined Approach of Field Data and Analog Sandbox Modeling

Kinematic History of a Salient-recess Junction Explored through a Combined Approach of Field Data and Analog Sandbox Modeling

Published on: August 5, 2016

Deep continental roots and cratons.

D Graham Pearson¹, James M Scott², Jingao Liu³

¹Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. gdpearso@ualberta.ca.

|August 12, 2021

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Cratons, Earth's ancient continental cores, are preserved by thick mantle roots formed through low-pressure melting and subsequent deep transport. Orogenic thickening processes were key to developing these stable lithospheric roots, enabling the emergence of continents.

More Related Videos

Removal of Exogenous Materials from the Outer Portion of Frozen Cores to Investigate the Ancient Biological Communities Harbored Inside

Removal of Exogenous Materials from the Outer Portion of Frozen Cores to Investigate the Ancient Biological Communities Harbored Inside

Published on: July 3, 2016

Measuring and Mapping Patterns of Soil Erosion and Deposition Related to Soil Carbonate Concentrations Under Agricultural Management

Measuring and Mapping Patterns of Soil Erosion and Deposition Related to Soil Carbonate Concentrations Under Agricultural Management

Published on: September 12, 2017

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Oct 25, 2025

Kinematic History of a Salient-recess Junction Explored through a Combined Approach of Field Data and Analog Sandbox Modeling

Kinematic History of a Salient-recess Junction Explored through a Combined Approach of Field Data and Analog Sandbox Modeling

Published on: August 5, 2016

Removal of Exogenous Materials from the Outer Portion of Frozen Cores to Investigate the Ancient Biological Communities Harbored Inside

Removal of Exogenous Materials from the Outer Portion of Frozen Cores to Investigate the Ancient Biological Communities Harbored Inside

Published on: July 3, 2016

Measuring and Mapping Patterns of Soil Erosion and Deposition Related to Soil Carbonate Concentrations Under Agricultural Management

Measuring and Mapping Patterns of Soil Erosion and Deposition Related to Soil Carbonate Concentrations Under Agricultural Management

Published on: September 12, 2017

Area of Science:

Geology
Geophysics
Tectonics

Background:

Cratons are ancient continental cores, crucial for understanding Earth's history.
Their formation and preservation, particularly their mantle roots, remain a significant geological challenge.
The Mesoarchean and Palaeoproterozoic eras were critical for assembling long-lived cratons.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the formation and evolution of cratonic lithospheric roots.
To understand the processes responsible for the long-term stability of cratons.
To refine the definition of cratons to include Mesoproterozoic stable crustal regions.

Main Methods:

Analysis of peridotite melting residues.
Modeling of lithospheric thickening via lateral accretion and compression.
Geological reconstruction of craton assembly during specific Precambrian eras.

Main Results:

Cratonic lithospheric roots originate from low-pressure melting residues transported to greater depths.
Thick, stable mantle roots (150-250 km) formed during the Mesoarchean and Palaeoproterozoic are critical for craton preservation.
Orogenic thickening, potentially in multiple cycles, is fundamental to producing widespread, strong lithosphere.

Conclusions:

The development of thick lithospheric roots is intrinsically linked to craton formation and longevity.
The definition of cratons can be extended to encompass stable Mesoproterozoic regions with thick lithospheric support.
Understanding cratonic evolution provides insights into the emergence of stable continental landmasses.