CRATONS AND SHIELDS

Cratons and Shields: Ancient Continent Anchors

Cratons

Ancient giants

• These are the Earth's grandfathers, made of granite that formed over a billion years ago, before continents ever existed.
• Consider them to be the wrinkled skin of the earth.

Tectonic giants

• Cratons have been involved in numerous collisions, mountain-building events, and even catastrophic meteor impacts.
• They have, however, endured every hurricane and remain remarkably undeformed and stable.
• They are the tectonic champions of the Earth.

Mineral treasure troves

• Cratons have a plethora of mineral riches such as diamonds, gold, and rare metals that have developed deep beneath their ancient hearts.
• They are the secret vaults of rare riches on Earth.

Shields

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Exposed scars

• Consider shields to be the visible portions of these ancient titans.
• They are locations where the worn rock skin of the craton peeps through the younger layers of continents.
• Consider them scars on the Earth's surface that convey the story of long-forgotten geological warfare.

Rocky playgrounds

• Shields are frequently low-lying, with undulating hills and glistening lakes.
• They're ideal for trekking, camping, and discovering the Earth's hidden treasures.
• Consider them natural history museums, with each rock telling a narrative from the past.

Continental cornerstones

• Shields serve as anchors that keep everything else in place in the centres of many continents.
• They are the Earth's quiet defenders, keeping continents floating on the tectonic seas.

Cratons vs. Shields

• Cratons represent the complete old ship hull, but shields represent only the exposed deck.
• Cratons can be covered with newer rocks, whereas shields are generally bare rock.
• Both are necessary for continental stability, but shields provide a direct view into Earth's ancient past.

IMAGE SOURCE (THUMBNAIL)