Speculations on the evolution of the lithosphere

The rate of thickening of the lithosphere has varied through geological time. Plate tectonics did not begin until about 1000 Ma ago, because eclogite was not stable in oceanic crust prior to that time. Geological data (presence of continental margins and rift-zones, paleomagnetic polar-wander curve, age and distribution of andesites) are used as a guide to extrapolate back in time the data available on the present lithosphere and on present geothermal gradients. These speculations are meant to focus attention on constraints that must be respected by models for Precambrian evolution of the crust.