The Hadean is the earliest eon in Earth’s geologic history, spanning from the planet’s formation about 4.56 billion years ago to roughly 4.0 billion years ago. It is characterized by accretion from planetesimals, intense impact bombardment, large-scale core–mantle differentiation, and the establishment of a magma ocean followed by progressive cooling. Direct rock record from this interval is essentially absent, with evidence derived primarily from detrital Hadean zircons and isotopic signatures indicating early crustal recycling and the possible presence of liquid water. The Hadean sets the initial thermal, chemical, and structural conditions for subsequent Archean crustal evolution.
Science never stops. Get notified about trending stories.
