craton -- n. A part of the Earth's crust that has attained stability and has been little deformed for a long period of time, refers only to continents; cratonic- adj.
craton The stable portions of the continents that have escaped orogenic activity for the last 2 billion years. Made predominantly of granite and metamorphic rocks. compare orogen .
The Earth's terrestrial surface or continents are made up of three types of landscapes: cratons; mountain belts, and the continental margins. All of the continents have the same construction.
 See also: Region, Tectonic, Erosion, Fault, Feature
  
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