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Abstract

The early Earth is generally believed to be a hot planet with a primitive basaltic oceanic crust. However, the question of how a batholiths-bearing continent was formed is still unresolved. Although many hypothetical interpretations seem appealing, the origin and volume dilemma of the batholiths is still under debate. According to recent literature, the Hadean Ocean is characterized by heat, acidity and reduction, significantly unlike its counterparts in Earth's history. We have found that this crucial marine setting, favoring the chemical weathering of basaltic rocks, is the key element for forming and stabilizing the primitive continents through convergent tectonics and the anatexis of voluminous weathering-induced amorphous quartz and clay minerals.

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