: a stable relatively immobile area of the earth's crust that forms the nuclear mass of a continent or the central basin of an ocean
Examples of craton in a Sentence
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Asteroid nearly hits Earth in Siberia, with a 2nd massive asteroid passing this week
The meteorite strike may have even contributed to the formation of cratons, which are large, stable landmasses that became the foundation of continents, Kirkland said.
—
Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 7 Mar. 2025
There’s even a chance the impact event eventually contributed to forming the giant precursors to continents known as cratons.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 6 Mar. 2025
These cratons have had long-term stability and have remained largely unchanged for millions of years.
—Devika Rao, theweek, 30 Oct. 2024
In contrast, the North American craton underwent trench retreat following flat-slab subduction but did not exhibit significant slab rollback.
—Devika Rao, theweek, 30 Oct. 2024
The best place to look for ancient craters is in regions of the Earth known as cratons—large, geologically stable stretches that have changed little over time.
—Jeffrey Kluger, TIME, 18 Sep. 2024
The evidence was found in marine sedimentary rocks from the Franceville Basin near Gabon in Central Africa, which experienced an episode of underwater volcanic activity from two Precambrian continents, or cratons, colliding 2.1 billion years ago, according to the study.
—Leah Sarnoff, ABC News, 29 July 2024
Sale of 'Apex' renews debate The two Precambrian cratons examined in the study are the Congo and São Francisco cratons, which were stable Archaean blocks that were once part of a single landmass in central Africa and eastern Brazil, according to Fru.
—Leah Sarnoff, ABC News, 29 July 2024
Some older rocks still survive in cratons, stable portions of continental crust that haven´t changed much over time.
—Big Think, 17 June 2024
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Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 7 Mar. 2025
There’s even a chance the impact event eventually contributed to forming the giant precursors to continents known as cratons.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 6 Mar. 2025
These cratons have had long-term stability and have remained largely unchanged for millions of years.
—Devika Rao, theweek, 30 Oct. 2024
In contrast, the North American craton underwent trench retreat following flat-slab subduction but did not exhibit significant slab rollback.
—Devika Rao, theweek, 30 Oct. 2024
The best place to look for ancient craters is in regions of the Earth known as cratons—large, geologically stable stretches that have changed little over time.
—Jeffrey Kluger, TIME, 18 Sep. 2024
The evidence was found in marine sedimentary rocks from the Franceville Basin near Gabon in Central Africa, which experienced an episode of underwater volcanic activity from two Precambrian continents, or cratons, colliding 2.1 billion years ago, according to the study.
—Leah Sarnoff, ABC News, 29 July 2024
Sale of 'Apex' renews debate The two Precambrian cratons examined in the study are the Congo and São Francisco cratons, which were stable Archaean blocks that were once part of a single landmass in central Africa and eastern Brazil, according to Fru.
—Leah Sarnoff, ABC News, 29 July 2024
Some older rocks still survive in cratons, stable portions of continental crust that haven´t changed much over time.
—Big Think, 17 June 2024
Cite this Entry
“Craton.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/craton. Accessed 15 Mar. 2025.
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