This session ventures into the heart of our planet, exploring the powerful forces and intricate processes that have shaped the Earth’s surface and interior over millennia. We will begin by examining the planet’s fundamental engine through the integrated study of Geodynamics and Tectonic processes. This foundational theme invites research on the physical and chemical evolution of the Earth, from mantle convection and core dynamics to the crustal-scale manifestations of plate tectonics. We encourage contributions covering the full spectrum of tectonic activity, including structural geology, the mechanics of faulting and earthquakes, and the magmatic systems driving volcanology, to build a comprehensive picture of the dynamic Earth.
Flowing from these large-scale drivers, the session will zoom in on their tangible products: the rocks and minerals beneath our feet. This segment focuses on Petrologic processes and mineralization, investigating the formation and transformation of igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks. We welcome detailed studies on magma genesis, metamorphic pathways, and the geochemical conditions that lead to the concentration of valuable mineral resources. This exploration provides a critical link between deep Earth dynamics and the geological materials that underpin our economies and infrastructure, highlighting the importance of understanding ore-forming systems for sustainable resource exploration and management.
Finally, we turn our gaze to the geological archive to decipher the planet’s history and inform its future. This part of the session is dedicated to reconstructing the present and the past environments using the clues locked within the rock record. By analyzing sedimentary sequences, paleontological data, and geochemical proxies, we can unravel the story of past climates, ancient landscapes, and the evolution of life. This deep-time perspective is essential for contextualizing modern environmental changes and improving our ability to predict future trends. We invite contributions that use Earth’s history as a natural laboratory to better navigate the challenges of our changing world.
To wrap up, the topics in Solid Earth Sciences are but not limited to:
- Geodynamics, covering the physical and chemical evolution of the Earth
- Petrologic processes and mineralization
- Present and the past environments
- Tectonic processes that affect the crust and upper mantle, ranging from structural geology, volcanology, to plate tectonics