Development of the Early Continental Crust. Part 1. Use of Trace Element Distribution Coefficient Models for the Protoarchean Crust

Abstract

The original continental crust developed as the residue from fractional crystallization of the mantle–crust system. Using measured distribution coefficients for K, Rb, Ba, Sr, La, Ce, Eu, Yb, and Ni, several crystallization models are tested for conformity with regional geochemical estimates of continental crustal composition.In spite of the uncertainties and approximations the predicted concentrations agree reasonably well with observation, except in the case of Yb.