A craton is a large, stable portion of Earth's lithosphere that makes up part of a continent. The Kaapvaal craton in Africa is one of five ancient cratons left from the Precambrian era. The rock has remained tectonically stable since its formation 3.6 billion to 2 billion years ago. What do you think the term "tectonically stable" means? Why do you think this rock formation is important to understanding the history of Earth? Do you think studying ancient rock formations such as the Kaapvaal craton can teach scientists not only about Earth's past but also its future? Why or why not?

Question

Heidy Dunlap

Geography

25 March, 15:27

A craton is a large, stable portion of Earth's lithosphere that makes up part of a continent. The Kaapvaal craton in Africa is one of five ancient cratons left from the Precambrian era. The rock has remained tectonically stable since its formation 3.6 billion to 2 billion years ago. What do you think the term "tectonically stable" means? Why do you think this rock formation is important to understanding the history of Earth? Do you think studying ancient rock formations such as the Kaapvaal craton can teach scientists not only about Earth's past but also its future? Why or why not?

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Luca Mejia · Answer 1

Tectonically stable means that this part of the continent has not moved for billions of years. The rock formation is important understanding the history of Earth since its unmoved and untouched state can provide ideas about how the Earth looked like as seen on the layers of the rock formation.