Explanation – The term “Hadean protocrust” refers to Earth’s first crust, which formed during the Hadean eon (approximately 4.6 to 4 billion years ago). This was when the planet’s surface began to cool and solidify from a molten magma ocean after its initial formation through accretion. This crust was unstable, frequently destroyed and reformed due to meteor impacts, volcanic activity, and the extreme conditions of early Earth. It marked the beginning of the Earth’s outermost solid layer but did not survive to the present day due to ongoing geological processes.

Source: The Hindu