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M. Santosh - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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a type granites in the western margin of the siberian Craton implications for breakup of the precambrian supercontinents columbia nuna and rodinia
Precambrian Research, 2019Co-Authors: I I Likhanov, M. SantoshAbstract:Abstract The tectonic evolution of the Siberian Cratonic margins offers important clues for global paleogeographic reconstructions, within the complex continental collage of Central Asia. The Yenisey Ridge fold–and–thrust belt at the western margin of the Siberian Craton forms part of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB) and is a key to understand the Precambrian tectonic evolution of the Siberian Craton and crustal growth in the CAOB, the world's largest Phanerozoic accretionary orogenic belt. Here we report the occurrence of A-type granites with geochemical features indicating intraplate setting from the Yenisey Ridge and provide evidence for rift-related magmatism. Zircon SHRIMP U–Pb analyses coupled with in situ U–Th–Pb geochronology of monazite constrain the timing of emplacement of the rift–related granitoids and suggest two consequential breakup events. The magmatic events at 1380 Ma and 800–720 Ma along the western margin of the Siberian Craton and other continental blocks can be associated with the breakup of the Precambrian supercontinents Nuna-Columbia (1.8–1.3 Ga) and Rodinia (1.2–0.7 Ga). These pre-Grenville and post-Grenville episodes of regional crustal evolution are correlated with the synchronous successions and similar style of rocks along the Arctic margin of Nuna–Columbia and Rodinia and supports the spatial proximity of Siberia and North Atlantic Cratons (Laurentia and Baltica) over the long period 1.38–0.72 Ga. Our data confirm the proposed Neoproterozoic paleogeographic reconstructions of Columbia and Rodinia as constrained from the large igneous province (LIP) record.
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formation of archean 3600 2500 ma continental crust in the dharwar Craton southern india
Earth-Science Reviews, 2018Co-Authors: M Jayananda, M. Santosh, K R AadhiseshanAbstract:Abstract The generation, preservation and destruction of continental crust on Earth is of wide interest in understanding the formation of continents, Cratons and supercontinents as well as related mineral deposits. In this contribution, we integrate the available field, petrographic, geochronologic, elemental Nd-Hf-Pb isotope data for greenstones, TTG gneisses, sanukitoids and anatectic granites from the Dharwar Craton (southern India). This review allows us to evaluate the accretionary processes of juvenile crust, mechanisms of continental growth, and secular evolution of geodynamic processes through the 3600–2500 Ma window, hence providing important insights into building of continents in the Early Earth. The Dharwar Craton formed by assembly of micro-blocks with independent thermal records and accretionary histories. The Craton can be divided into three crustal blocks (western, central and eastern) separated by major shear zones. The western block contains some of the oldest basement rocks with two generations of volcano-sedimentary greenstone sequences and discrete potassic plutons whereas the central block consist of older migmatitic TTGs, abundant younger transitional TTGs, remnants of ancient high grade supracrustal rocks, linear volcanic-dominated greenstone belts, voluminous calc-alkaline granitoids of sanukitoid affinity and anatectic granites. In contrast, the eastern block comprises younger transitional TTGs, abundant diatexites, thin volcanic-sedimentary greenstone belts and calc-alkaline plutons. Published geochronologic data show five major periods of felsic crust formation at ca. 3450–3300 Ma, 3230–3150 Ma, 3000–2960 Ma, 2700–2600 Ma, and 2560–2520 Ma which are sub-contemporaneous with the episodes of greenstone volcanism. U-Pb ages of inherited zircons in TTGs, as well as detrital zircons together with Nd-Pb-Hf isotope data, reveal continental records of 3800–3600 Ma. The U-Pb zircon data suggest at least four major reworking events during ca. 3200 Ma, 3000 Ma, 2620–2600 Ma, and 2530–2500 Ma corresponding to lower crustal melting and spatially linked high grade metamorphic events. The TTGs are sub-divided into the older (3450–3000 Ma) TTGs and the younger (2700–2600 Ma) transitional TTGs. The older TTGs can be further sub-divided into low-Al and high-Al groups. Elemental and isotopic data suggest that the low-Al type formed by melting of oceanic island arc crust within plagioclase stability field. In contrast, the elemental and isotopic features for the high-Al group suggest derivation of their magmatic precursor by melting of oceanic arc crust at deeper levels (55–65 km) with variable garnet and ilmenite in residue. The transitional TTGs likely formed by melting of composite sources involving both enriched oceanic arc crust and sub-arc mantle with minor contamination of ancient crustal components. The geochemical and isotopic compositions of granitoids with sanukitoid affinity suggest derivation from enriched mantle reservoirs. Finally, anatectic granites were produced by reworking of crustal sources with different histories. In the light of the data reviewed in this contribution, we propose the following scenario for the tectonic evolution of the Dharwar Craton. During 3450–3000 Ma, TTGs sources (oceanic arc crust) formed by melting of down going slabs and subsequent melting of such newly formed crust at different depths resulted in TTG magmas. On the contrary, by 2700 Ma the depth of slab melting increased. Melting of slab at greater depth alongside the detritus results in enriched melts partly modified the overlying mantle wedge. Subsequent melting of such newly formed enriched oceanic arc crust and surrounding arc-mantle generated the magmatic precursor to transitional TTGs. Finally at ca. 2600–2560 Ma, eventual breakoff of down going slab caused mantle upwelling which induced low degree (10–15%) melting of overlying enriched mantle at different depths, thereby, generating the sanukitoid magmas which upon emplacement into the crust caused high temperature metamorphism, reworking and final Cratonization. The crustal accretion patterns in the Dharwar Craton share similarities with those in other Archean Cratons such as the Bundelkhand Craton in Central India, Pilbara-Yilgarn Craton in Western Australia, Southern Africa (Swaziland and Limpopo belt), North China Craton, Tanzania Craton, Antongil Craton, NE Madagascar.
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neoproterozoic intraplate magmatism along the western margin of the siberian Craton implications for breakup of the rodinia supercontinent
Precambrian Research, 2017Co-Authors: I I Likhanov, M. SantoshAbstract:Abstract The fold-and-thrust belt of Yenisey Ridge is a key to understand the Precambrian tectonic evolution of the Siberian Craton as well as crustal evolution in the Central Asian Orogenic Belt. Here we report the occurrence of felsic and mafic dyke swarms in the Yenisey Ridge providing evidence for rift-related magmatism. The dikes and sills occur in narrow linear zones along faults, and show bimodal composition with geochemical features indicating intraplate settings. Zircon SHRIMP U-Pb analyses constrain the timing of emplacement of the dykes as 797–792 Ma. The magmatic event at c. 800 Ma along the western margin of the Siberian Craton and other continental blocks can be correlated with the onset of the breakup of the Neoproterozoic Rodinia supercontinent. Post-Grenville episodes of regional crustal evolution are correlated with the synchronous successions and similar style within the Valhalla orogen along the Arctic margin of Rodinia and supports the spatial proximity of Siberia and North Atlantic Cratons (Laurentia, Baltica, Svalbard) at c. 800 Ma, as proposed for the Neoproterozoic paleogeographic reconstructions for the Rodinia supercontinent and as robustly constrained from large igneous province (LIP) record.
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Lithospheric structure of the North China Craton: Integrated gravity, geoid and topography data
Gondwana Research, 2016Co-Authors: H. Zeyen, T. Hao, M. Santosh, S. Huang, J. XingAbstract:The lithospheric structure of ancient Cratons provides important constraints on models relating to tectonic evolution and mantle dynamics. Here we present the 3D lithospheric structure of the North China Craton (NCC) from a joint inversion of gravity, geoid and topography data. The NCC records a prolonged history of Archean and Paleoproterozoic accretion of crustal blocks through subduction and collision building the Cratonic architecture, which was subsequently differentially destroyed during Mesozoic through extensive magmatism. The thermal structure obtained in our study is considered to define the lithosphere-asthenosphere boundary (LAB) of the NCC, and reflects the density variations within the mantle lithosphere. Employing the Moho depths from deep seismic sounding profiles for the inversion, and based on repeated computations using different parameters, we estimate the Moho depth, LAB depth and average crustal density of the Craton. The Moho depth varies from 28 to 50 km and the LAB depth varies from 105 to 205 km. The LAB and Moho show concordant thinning from West to East of the NCC. The average crustal density is 2870 kg m− 3 in the western part of the NCC, higher than that in the eastern part (2750 kg m− 3). The results of joint inversion in our study yielded LAB depth and lithospheric thinning features similar to those estimated from thermal and seismic studies, although our results show different depth and variations in the thickness. The lithosphere gently thins from 145 to 105 km in the eastern NCC, where as the thinning is much less pronounced in the western NCC with average depth of about 175 km. The joint inversion results in this study provide another perspective on the lithospheric structure from the density properties and corresponding geophysical responses in an ancient Craton.
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the paleoproterozoic north hebei orogen north china Craton s collisional suture with the columbia supercontinent
Gondwana Research, 2007Co-Authors: Timothy M Kusky, M. SantoshAbstract:Abstract Understanding the geologic history and position of the North China Craton in the Paleoproterozoic Columbia supercontinent has proven elusive. Paleoproterozoic orogenic episodes (2.00–1.85 Ga) are temporally associated with ultimate stabilization of the North China Craton (NCC), followed by the development of extensive Craton-wide rift systems at 1.85–1.80 Ga. The age difference between the sedimentary cover and the metamorphic basement is up to 500–700 Ma, suggesting that uplift and doming of Cratonic basement occurred in the latest Paleoproterozoic. Mafic dike swarms (1.80–1.77 Ga) and anorogenic magmatism (1.80–1.70 Ga) record the extensional breakup and dispersal of the North China Craton during this stage. The late Paleoproterozoic tectonic framework and geological events documented provide important constraints for reconstruction of the NCC within the Late Paleoproterozoic supercontinent of Columbia. An east-west striking thousand kilometer long belt of khondalites (granulite facies metapelites) stretches along the northern margin of the North China Craton, on the Cratonward side of the Northern Hebei orogenic belt. This granulite belt includes Mg–Al (sapphirine bearing) granulites that reached ultrahigh-temperature “peak” metamorphic conditions of ∼ 1000 °C at 10 kbars at 1927 ± 11 Ma. Following peak ultrahigh-temperature conditions, the rocks underwent initial isobaric cooling and subsequent isothermal decompression, and these trajectories are interpreted to be part of an overall anti-clockwise P-T evolution indicating that the northern margin of the Craton experienced continental collision at 1.93–1.92 Ga. The position of the khondalite belt south of the Northern Hebei orogenic belt makes it analogous to Tibet, a continental collision-related plateau characterized by double crustal thicknesses and granulite facies metamorphism at depth. We suggest that the tectonic evolution of the NCC during this period was closely related to the assembly and break-up of the Columbia supercontinent, and that the NCC was adjacent to the Baltic and Amazonian Cratons in the period 2.00–1.70 Ga. Craton-wide extension occurred within 100–150 Ma of collision along the northern margin of the Craton at 1.93–1.92 Ga. It is concluded that mantle upwellings are chiefly responsible for the breakup of the NCC from the Paleoproterozoic supercontinent.
Richard E Ernst - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Geochemical characterization of a reconstructed 1110 Ma Large Igneous Province
Precambrian Research, 2019Co-Authors: Babita R. Choudhary, Michiel O. De Kock, Amarildo Salina Ruiz, David A D Evans, Joseph G. Meert, Richard E Ernst, Yigang Xu, Gabrielle Aparecida De LimaAbstract:Abstract 1110 Ma Large Igneous Province (LIP) fragments in the Kalahari Craton, southern Africa (Umkondo LIP); Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica; Bundelkhand portion of Indian Craton (Mahoba dolerite dykes); Congo Craton (Huila-Epembe dolerite dykes); and Amazonia (Rincon del Tigre-Huanchaca LIP) have been reconstructed as a single LIP with plume centre beneath the NW part of the Kalahari Craton. This paper offers the best estimates for the paleoposition of the Indian and Amazonian Cratons along with conjoined Kalahari-SF/Congo reconstruction. This 1110 Ma mafic magmatism is dominantly tholeiitic, ranging from basalt to andesitic basalt in composition, generated over a range of mantle melting depths [(Gd/Yb)N = 1.2–2.3], exhibit low to high contamination with crustal components (negative Nb anomalies, eNd (0 to −12), and elevated Th/Yb). The data fall into two Groups based on TiO2 content, with Group 1 (low Ti) of andesitic basalt composition, and Group 2 (high Ti) exhibiting a basaltic affinity. Group 1 magmas were generated in the spinel lherzolite field followed by significant contamination likely during passage through metasomatised lithospheric mantle in crustal magma chambers. A greater melting depth reaching into the garnet lherzolite field is proposed for the Group 2 magmas. The majority of Group 2 units are located in the Kalahari and Congo Cratons, and this reflects onset of deeper melting closer to the interpreted plume axis in our reconstruction.
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mesoproterozoic intraplate magmatic barcode record of the angola portion of the congo Craton newly dated magmatic events at 1505 and 1110 ma and implications for nuna columbia supercontinent reconstructions
Precambrian Research, 2013Co-Authors: Richard E Ernst, Sergei Pisarevsky, Eurico Pereira, Michael A Hamilton, Jose Rodriques, Colombo Celso Gaeta Tassinari, Wilson Teixeira, Vitoria VandunemAbstract:Abstract In the Angola portion of the Congo Craton, the only Proterozoic large igneous province (LIP) dated prior to this study was the 1380–1370 Ma (Kunene Intrusive Complex and related units). U–Pb TIMS ages on baddeleyite from dolerite sills and gabbro-noritic dykes, has revealed two additional Mesoproterozoic intraplate events: at ca. 1505 and ca. 1110 Ma, that are each proposed to be part of the plumbing system for LIPs. The identification of these three Mesoproterozoic magmatic events (ca. 1505, 1380, and 1110 Ma) represent an initial magmatic ‘barcode’ for this portion of Congo Craton (and formerly connected Sao Francisco Craton), which can be compared with the magmatic ‘barcode’ record of other blocks to identify former nearest neighbors in the Precambrian supercontinent Nuna (also known as Columbia). Specifically, a 1502 ± 5 Ma U–Pb TIMS baddeleyite age has been obtained for the prominent Humpata dolerite sill which is part of a wider sill province in SW Angola portion of the Congo Craton. The combined presence of both 1505 Ma and 1380 Ma magmatism in the Congo–Sao Francisco reconstructed Craton is a match with similar ages published for two intraplate magmatic provinces in northern Siberia and suggests a nearest-neighbor relationship in the supercontinent Nuna in which northern Siberia is juxtaposed adjacent to the western Sao Francisco portion of the reconstructed Sao Francisco–Congo Craton. In addition, a precise U–Pb TIMS baddeleyite age of 1110 ± 2.5 Ma was obtained for a prominent NNW–NNE trending gabbro-noritic (GN) dyke swarm in southeastern Angola, but this age is currently unknown in Siberia suggesting that the breakup of Congo–Sao Francisco Craton from Siberia happened earlier, perhaps in association with the 1380 Ma event. This 1110 Ma age is however, a precise match with that of the Umkondo large igneous province (LIP) of the Kalahari Craton, and also with mafic intraplate magmatism on other blocks such as the Bundelkhand Craton (India) and the Amazonian Craton. We provisionally consider these three Cratons to have been nearest neighbors to the Congo–Sao Francisco Craton at this time and to have shared this 1110 Ma magmatic event as a LIP node. There is also an age match with the early part of the Keweenawan event (in the interior of the Laurentia); however, on previously discussed paleomagnetic grounds the Keweenawan event is likely to have been distant and unrelated (and on the other side of the Grenville orogen).
Joseph G. Meert - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Geochemical characterization of a reconstructed 1110 Ma Large Igneous Province
Precambrian Research, 2019Co-Authors: Babita R. Choudhary, Michiel O. De Kock, Amarildo Salina Ruiz, David A D Evans, Joseph G. Meert, Richard E Ernst, Yigang Xu, Gabrielle Aparecida De LimaAbstract:Abstract 1110 Ma Large Igneous Province (LIP) fragments in the Kalahari Craton, southern Africa (Umkondo LIP); Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica; Bundelkhand portion of Indian Craton (Mahoba dolerite dykes); Congo Craton (Huila-Epembe dolerite dykes); and Amazonia (Rincon del Tigre-Huanchaca LIP) have been reconstructed as a single LIP with plume centre beneath the NW part of the Kalahari Craton. This paper offers the best estimates for the paleoposition of the Indian and Amazonian Cratons along with conjoined Kalahari-SF/Congo reconstruction. This 1110 Ma mafic magmatism is dominantly tholeiitic, ranging from basalt to andesitic basalt in composition, generated over a range of mantle melting depths [(Gd/Yb)N = 1.2–2.3], exhibit low to high contamination with crustal components (negative Nb anomalies, eNd (0 to −12), and elevated Th/Yb). The data fall into two Groups based on TiO2 content, with Group 1 (low Ti) of andesitic basalt composition, and Group 2 (high Ti) exhibiting a basaltic affinity. Group 1 magmas were generated in the spinel lherzolite field followed by significant contamination likely during passage through metasomatised lithospheric mantle in crustal magma chambers. A greater melting depth reaching into the garnet lherzolite field is proposed for the Group 2 magmas. The majority of Group 2 units are located in the Kalahari and Congo Cratons, and this reflects onset of deeper melting closer to the interpreted plume axis in our reconstruction.
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a damara orogen perspective on the assembly of southwestern gondwana
Geological Society London Special Publications, 2008Co-Authors: David R Gray, Joseph G. Meert, Richard Armstrong, David A Foster, Ben Goscombe, Rudolph A J Trouw, Cees W PasschierAbstract:The Pan-African Damara orogenic system records Gondwana amalgamation involving serial suturing of the Congo-Sao Francisco and Ro ´o de la Plata Cratons (North Gondwana) from 580 to 550 Ma, before amalgamation with the Kalahari - Antarctic Cratons (South Gondwana) as part of the 530 Ma Kuunga-Damara orogeny. Closure of the Adamastor Ocean was diachronous from the Aracuao ´ Belt southwards, with peak sinistral transpressional deformation followed by Craton overthrusting and foreland basin development at 580- 550 Ma in the Kaoko Belt and at 545-530 Ma in the Gariep Belt. Peak deformation/metamorphism in the Damara Belt was at 530-500 Ma, with thrusting onto the Kalahari Craton from 495 Ma through to 480 Ma. Coupling of the Congo and Ro ´o de la Plata Cratons occurred before final closure of the Mozambique and Khomas (Damara Belt) oceans with the consequence that the Kuunga suture extends into Africa as the Damara Belt, and the Lufilian Arc and Zambezi Belt of Zambia. Palaeomagnetic data indicate that the Gondwana Cratonic components were in close proximity by c. 550 Ma, so the last stages of the Damara-Kuunga orogeny were intraCratonic, and led to eventual out- stepping of deformation/metamorphism to the Ross-Delamerian orogen (c. 520-500 Ma) along the leading edge of the Gondwana supercontinental margin.
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the proterozoic supercontinent rodinia paleomagnetically derived reconstructions for 1100 to 800 ma
Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 1998Co-Authors: Arlo Brandon Weil, Rob Van Der Voo, Conall Mac Niocaill, Joseph G. MeertAbstract:Abstract Well-dated paleomagnetic poles for the interval 1100–800 Ma have been compiled for the Laurentia, Baltica, Sao Francisco, Congo and Kalahari Cratons in order to construct apparent polar wander paths (APWPs) for this interval. Laurentia's APWP consists of a well-determined Keweenawan track for 1100–1000 Ma and a 1000–800 Ma Grenville loop. We use a counterclockwise APW loop for the Grenville poles based on ages for post-metamorphic cooling through ∼500°C for the Grenville Province between 1000 and 950 Ma, and the temporal and spatial similarities with Proterozoic counterclockwise APWP's for other Cratons. Baltica's APWP is comprised of seven dated poles that define a similar loop, counterclockwise and hinged at 950 Ma, that can be superimposed on the Laurentian Grenville loop. This loop is also seen in the seven poles of the APWP for the combined Sao Francisco–Congo Craton; superposition of these loops leads to a reconstruction in which the Sao Francisco–Congo Craton is to the south-southeast of Laurentia in present-day coordinates. A long 1090–985 Ma APWP track for the Kalahari is in reasonable agreement with the roughly coeval Keweenawan track, when the Kalahari Craton is rotated ∼40° counterclockwise away from the Congo Craton while remaining hinged at the Zambezi belt. The resulting Rodinia reconstruction resembles those previously proposed on geological grounds for Laurentia, East Gondwana, Baltica, Sao Francisco–Congo, and the Kalahari Craton.
Gabrielle Aparecida De Lima - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Geochemical characterization of a reconstructed 1110 Ma Large Igneous Province
Precambrian Research, 2019Co-Authors: Babita R. Choudhary, Michiel O. De Kock, Amarildo Salina Ruiz, David A D Evans, Joseph G. Meert, Richard E Ernst, Yigang Xu, Gabrielle Aparecida De LimaAbstract:Abstract 1110 Ma Large Igneous Province (LIP) fragments in the Kalahari Craton, southern Africa (Umkondo LIP); Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica; Bundelkhand portion of Indian Craton (Mahoba dolerite dykes); Congo Craton (Huila-Epembe dolerite dykes); and Amazonia (Rincon del Tigre-Huanchaca LIP) have been reconstructed as a single LIP with plume centre beneath the NW part of the Kalahari Craton. This paper offers the best estimates for the paleoposition of the Indian and Amazonian Cratons along with conjoined Kalahari-SF/Congo reconstruction. This 1110 Ma mafic magmatism is dominantly tholeiitic, ranging from basalt to andesitic basalt in composition, generated over a range of mantle melting depths [(Gd/Yb)N = 1.2–2.3], exhibit low to high contamination with crustal components (negative Nb anomalies, eNd (0 to −12), and elevated Th/Yb). The data fall into two Groups based on TiO2 content, with Group 1 (low Ti) of andesitic basalt composition, and Group 2 (high Ti) exhibiting a basaltic affinity. Group 1 magmas were generated in the spinel lherzolite field followed by significant contamination likely during passage through metasomatised lithospheric mantle in crustal magma chambers. A greater melting depth reaching into the garnet lherzolite field is proposed for the Group 2 magmas. The majority of Group 2 units are located in the Kalahari and Congo Cratons, and this reflects onset of deeper melting closer to the interpreted plume axis in our reconstruction.
Ross N Mitchell - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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early neoproterozoic 870 820 ma amalgamation of the tarim Craton northwestern china and the final assembly of rodinia
Geology, 2021Co-Authors: Pan Zhao, Chenglong Deng, Yan Chen, Ross N MitchellAbstract:In the paleogeographic configuration of the Neoproterozoic supercontinent of Rodinia, the Tarim Craton (northwestern China), traditionally seen as a single block, is placed either on the periphery near northern Australia or India or in a central position between Australia and Laurentia. To distinguish between these possibilities, we present here new primary paleomagnetic results from ca. 900 Ma volcanics in the Aksu region of the northwestern Tarim Craton. The data reveal a ~28° latitudinal difference between the North Tarim and South Tarim blocks at ca. 900 Ma and constrain the age of amalgamation of the Tarim Craton to between 870 and 820 Ma. Combining paleomagnetic poles from Tarim and major Cratons of Rodinia with geological evidence, a two-stage orogenic model is proposed for the assembly of Rodinia. Late Mesoproterozoic orogenesis (1.3–1.0 Ga) led to the assembly of Australia–East Antarctica, Baltica, Umkondia, South Tarim, and Cathaysia with Laurentia, forming the core of Rodinia. Thereafter, the Jiangnan–Central Tarim Ocean separating North Tarim and Yangtze from South Tarim and Cathaysia was closed before ca. 820 Ma. This second Jiangnan–Central Tarim orogeny caused nearly coeval amalgamation of the peripheral Tarim and South China Cratons by the welding of North Tarim and Yangtze to South Tarim and Cathaysia, respectively. The supercontinent of Rodinia was thus assembled by two orogenic phases separated by ~200 m.y.
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plate tectonics before 2 0 ga evidence from paleomagnetism of Cratons within supercontinent nuna
American Journal of Science, 2014Co-Authors: Wouter Bleeker, Ross N Mitchell, Peng Peng, Otto Van Breemen, Tony N Lecheminant, Mimmi K M Nilsson, David EvansAbstract:Laurentia, the core of Paleo- to Mesoproterozoic supercontinent Nuna, has remained largely intact since assembly 2.0 to 1.8 billion years ago [Ga]. For earlier times, previous paleomagnetic data on poorly dated Paleoproterozoic mafic intrusions yielded ambiguous estimates of the amount of separation between key Cratons within Nuna such as the Slave and Superior. Recent developments in paleomagnetism and U-Pb baddeleyite geochronology, including new results reported herein, yield sufficiently precise data to generate partial apparent polar wander paths for both the Slave and Superior Craton from 2.2 to 2.0 Ga. Our new apparent polar wander comparison confirms earlier speculations that processes similar to plate tectonics, with relative motion between the Slave and Superior Cratons, were operative leading up to the final assembly of supercontinent Nuna.