Researchers suggest that about 2 1/2 billion years ago, bacteria caused iron to precipitate out of the oceans, depositing 1 km of heavy rock layers every million years. It eventually punched through Earth’s crust and initiated the plate tectonic cycle. Since then, plate tectonics has helped to stabilize Earth’s climate.
Researchers suggest that about 2 1/2 billion years ago, bacteria caused iron to precipitate out of the oceans, depositing 1 km of heavy rock layers every million years. It eventually punched through Earth’s crust and initiated the plate tectonic cycle. Since then, plate tectonics has helped to stabilize Earth’s climate.