
GeologyMarch 19, 2026
When did plate tectonics on Earth begin? New research finds some of the earliest clues
Scientists have found the oldest direct evidence for tectonic motion on Earth by more than half a billion years
Marissa Grunes is a freelance science journalist who focuses on Earth sciences, climate and the cryosphere.

When did plate tectonics on Earth begin? New research finds some of the earliest clues
Scientists have found the oldest direct evidence for tectonic motion on Earth by more than half a billion years