Introduction

The previous chapters have focused on the formation of Earth in the context of solar system history of the terrestrial planets (Chapter 1), and the current hypotheses for the evolution of Earth's deep interior and its relationship to early tectonic and surface processes (Chapter 2). Here, we focus on Chapter 3 and remaining chapters are focused on the Earth's Archean crust and its surface processes. Specifically, this Chapter 3, characterizes macroproperties of the Earth's crust, and the Archean magmatism (particularly greenstone belts) and tectonics (addressing the role of plate tectonics or alternative models), the role of plume and Large Igneous Provinces (LIPs) and provides an estimate of missing Archean crust.