Loading question...
You are in free guest mode. Timed Practice Revision List Attempt History Progress Tracking Create a free account to unlock these tools
Prev Next
Practice Reading: Fill in the Blanks (Dropdown) ID: #37419 Earth’s land
Instructions
Earths  continental  crust  may  have  emerged  500  million  years  earlier  than  scientists  had  previously  estimated.  Pinning  down  when  our  planets  land  emerged  could  help  us  understand  the  conditions  in  which    life  began.  Today,  new  oceanic  crust  rises  at  mid-ocean  ridges  where  tectonic  plates  drift  apart.  Continental  crust  is  usually  much  older,  formed  from  volcanism  where  plates  crash  into  each  other,    a  thicker,  less-dense  layer  above  sea  level.  Weathering  of  continental  crust  adds    to  the  ocean,  a  process  that  may  have  played  a  role  in  supporting  primordial  life.  The  big  question  is:  when  did  continental  crusts  start  forming?  To  try  to  answer  that,  Desiree  Roerdink  at  the  University  of  Bergen  in  Norway  and  her  colleagues  analyzed  30  ancient  rock  samples  from  six  sites  in  Australia,  South  Africa  and  India.  These  contained  barite,  which  can  form  in  hydrothermal  vents    fissures  in  the  ocean  floor    warm,  mineral-rich  waters  react  with  seawater.

Result:

With a free account: Retry and compare every attempt.
How difficult was this question?
Others found: 100% Easy · 0% Medium · 0% Hard
Saving...