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Abstract

This volume contains a series of papers that cover a wide range of aspects, including geophysics, structure and tectonics, atmosphere, origin of life, biosphere, deep mantle geochemistry, early oceans, microbial ecology, on the development of the Earth in the first 2000 Ma of its history.The aim of this publication is to facilitate future discussions and understanding of this area of research. This book is divided into three parts: • Geophysical and petrological constraints on Archaean lithosphere • Models of cratonic evolution and modification • Constraints on the Archaean environment Subjects covered include the chemical and biological controls on the atmosphere and oceans, early controls on the carbon cycle and photosynthesis, petrologic, isotopic, tectonic and seismic evidence for the composition and structure of Archaean lithosphere. This volume should be of interest to geologists and geophysicists who work on the Archaean, and students at all levels.