Geochemical evolution of the crust and mantle

During the period 1979–1982 studies of the Internal evolution of the earth reflected a broadened perspective, due largely to the influence of a growing body of knowledge about planetary evolution which is based on studies of lunar rocks and observations of the other terrestrial planets. In addition, there has been a noticeable increase in the amount of communication between workers mostly concerned with the chemistry of planetary evolution and those mostly concerned with the physics. The results have been a sharper focusing of research directions and a feeling that unified models of planetary evolution, from accretion to senescence are now much closer to being within reach. The changing perspective has been accompanied by the emergence of experimental techniques that are yielding new basic information.