Late Archean Era

The Late Archean, also known as the Neoarchean Era, occurred between approximately 2.8 and 2.5 billion years ago. This period marked a significant shift in Earth's crustal growth, moving from the rapid tectonic processes of earlier Archean eras towards Proterozoic styles.12

Key geological events during the Late Archean include:
* The formation of the first major rift valleys, such as the Pongola Rift in South Africa.2
* The intrusion of large basic dikes, like the Great Dyke in Zimbabwe.2
* The development of the first large sedimentary basins, such as the Witwatersrand in South Africa.2

These structures indicate that the continental crust had achieved a notable degree of stability and rigidity for the first time. Geochronology, the science of determining the age of rocks, uses methods like radiometric dating to establish these timelines.234