The Archaean is a geologic eon of Earth history spanning approximately 4.0 to 2.5 billion years ago, following the Hadean and preceding the Proterozoic. It is characterized by high heat flow, a largely anoxic atmosphere, and the stabilization of the first substantial continental crust, dominated by granite–greenstone terranes and high-grade gneiss complexes. Plate tectonic processes were likely more vigorous due to higher mantle temperatures, influencing crustal growth and metamorphism. The Archaean also encompasses the earliest widely accepted evidence of life, primarily prokaryotic microorganisms, preserved in stromatolites and microfossils, which played a foundational role in shaping subsequent biospheric and geochemical evolution.
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