INTRODUCTIONThe formation of the earth's crust began during the Hadean eon, shortly after the Chaotian interval of core formation and solidification of the magma ocean (Allegre et al ., 2008; Elkins-Tanton, 2008; This process began with the differentiation of crust-mantle zones from a bulk silicate Earth (BSE) reservoir, which is also believed to have produced the first continuous Earth crust (Allegre et al., 2008). However, whole-rock signatures of the original Hadean crust have not been preserved in the known geologic record and can only be inferred by isotopic analysis (Tessalina et al., 2010; Rizo et al., 2012). The only continuous trace of this primitive crust is found in rare detrital zircon grains in the sandstone units (Jack Hills) of the Yilgarn Craton in Western Australia (Compston and Pidgeon, 1986; Kemp et al., 2010). Intensive studies have focused on Jack Hills zircon and have produced various geodynamic models for the early Earth, as well as controversial observations and interpretations (Valley et al., 2002; Harrison et al., 2008). For these reasons, research on Late Archean igneous complexes has become of primary interest in understanding the evolution of the crust within the Earth, which would otherwise not be available for study ( Smithies et al., 2005; Nebel et al., 2013). The designation "Large Igneous Province" (LIP) was introduced to embody the range of immense and recognized crustal locations of mafic (Mg, Fe-rich) extrusive and intrusive rocks related to decompression of the hot, melting, buoyant upwelling mantle of the interior of the Earth (Coffin and Eldholm, 1991). This alteration of mass and energy is also thought to have occurred during specific cycles of geologic time, unlike normal crust... middle of paper ... mantle plumes, forming the first persistent oceanic lithosphere as observed in Nebel et al. (2013). This primitive lithosphere could have been sufficiently buoyant to form cratonic cores (Nebel et al., 2014). Subduction is thought to be an essential process in the formation of modern continental crust, but this early model of formation does not involve subduction or the preexistence of continental crust. I conclude that crustal evolution was a gradual process that may have required only the constant melting of mantle plumes and the formation of the original crustal material, which is in agreement with the interpretations of Nebel et al . (2013), although opposing new observations (i.e. Valley et al., 2014), suggest a much colder Hadean crust. Therefore, future models of early crustal formation will be developed from the presence of colder (wetter) or warmer (dry) conditions on the Earth's surface...