Protopangaea: Palaeomagnetic definition of Earth's oldest (mid-Archaean-Palaeoproterozoic) supercontinent

Journal of Geodynamics

Volumn 50, Issue 3-4, 2010, Pages 154-165

  Piper, J D A ^a  

^a UNIVERSITY OF LIVERPOOL   (United Kingdom)

Author keywords

Archaean; Geoid; Palaeomagnetism; Pangaea; Proterozoic; Supercontinents

Indexed keywords

APPARENT POLAR WANDER PATH; ARCHEAN; CONTINENTAL CRUST; CRATON; GEOID; GRANITE; GREENSTONE; PALEOGEOGRAPHY; PALEOMAGNETISM; PROTEROZOIC; SUPERCONTINENT;

EID: 77954657302     PISSN: 02643707     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1016/j.jog.2010.01.002     Document Type: Article

References (84)

1. Abbott D.A., Isley A.E. The intensity, occurrence and duration of superplume events and eras over geological time. Journal of Geodynamics 2002, 34:265-307.
2. Abbott D.A., Sparks D., Herzberg C., Mooney W., Nikishin A., Zhang Y.S. Quantifying Precambrian crustal extraction: the root is the answer. Tectonophysics 2000, 322:163-190.
3. Anderson J.L, Morrison J. Ilmenite, magnetite, and peraluminous Mesoproterozoic anorogenic granites of Laurentia and Baltica. Lithos 2005, 80:45-60.
4. Arestova N.A., Khramov A.N., Guskova E.G., Losifidi A.G. New palaeomagnetic evidence from the Early Proterozoic (2.5-2.4Ga) Mount Generalskaya and Imandra layered intrusions, Kola Peninsula. Fizika Zemli 2002, 38:65-78.
5. Aspler L.B., Chiarenzelli J.R. Two Neoarchaean supercontinents? Evidence from the Palaeoproterozoic. Sedimentary Geology 1998, 120:75-104.
6. Aubert, J., Labrosse, S., Poitou, C., 2009. Modelling the palaeoevolution of the geodynamo. Geophysical Journal International. doi:10.1111/j.1365-245X2009.04361.x.
7. Berry G.R. World Atlas of Geology and Mineral Deposits 1980, Mining Journal Books, London, 110 pp.
8. Berthelsen A., Marker M. Tectonics of the Kola collision suture and adjacent Archaean and Early Proterozoic terrains in the northeastern region of the Baltic Shield. Tectonophysics 1986, 126:31-55.
9. Biggin, A.J., Strik, G.H.M.A., Langeris, C.G., 2008. Evidence for a very-long-term-trend in geomagnetic secular variation. Nature. doi:10.1038/ngeo181.
10. Bridgewater D., Windley B.F. Anorthosites, post-orogenic granites, acid volcanic rocks and crustal development in the North Atlantic Shield during the Proterozoic. Symposium on Granites and Related Rocks 1973, vol. 3:307-318. Geological Society of South Africa Special Publication.
11. Buchan K.L., Mertanen S., Park R.G., Pesonen L.J., Elming S.-A., Abrahamsen N., Bylund G. Comparing the drift of Laurentia and Baltica in the Proterozoic: the importance of key palaeomagnetic poles. Tectonophysics 2000, 319:167-198.
12. Buffet B.A., Huppert H.E., Lister J.R., Woods A.W. Analytical model for solidification of the Earth's core. Nature 1991, 356:329.
13. Busse F.H. Quadrupole convection in the lower mantle?. Geophysical Research Letters 1983, 10:285-288.
14. Cheney E.S. Sequence stratigraphy and plate tectonic significance of the Transvaal succession of southern Africa and its equivalent in Western Australia. Precambrian Research 1996, 79:3-24.
15. Coe, R.S., Glatzmeiser, G.A., 2006. Symmetry and stability of the geomagnetic field. Geophysical Research Letters 33, L21311. doi:10.1029/2006GL027903.
16. Condie K.C. Plate Tectonics and Crustal Evolution 1997, Heinemann, Butterworth, 282 pp. 4th ed.
17. Condie K.C., Rosen O.M. Laurentia-Siberia connection revisited. Geology 1994, 22:168-170.
18. Cordani U.G., Teixeira W.T., D'Agrella-Filho M.S., Trindade R.I. The position of the Amazonian Craton in supercontinents. Gondwana Research 2009, 15:396-407.
19. Crough S.T., Jurdy D.M. Subducted lithosphere, hot spots and the geoid. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 1980, 48:15-22.
20. Daly M.C The intracratonic Irumide Belt of Zambia and its bearing on collision orogeny during the Proterozoic of Africa. Collision Tectonics 1986, vol. 19:321-328. Geological Society of London Special Publication.
21. Das A.K., Piper J.D.A., Mallik S.B., Sherwood G.J. Palaeomagnetic study of Archaean Banded hematite jasper rocks from the Singhbhum-Orissa Craton, India. Precambrian Research 1996, 80:193-204.
22. de Kock, M.O., 2007. Paleomagnetism of selected Neoarchean-Paleoproterozoic cover sequences on the Kaapvaal craton and implications for Vaalbara. Unpublished Ph.D. Thesis. University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, 276 pp.
23. de Kock M.O., Evans D.A.D., Dorland H.C., Beukes N.J., Gutzmer J. Paleomagnetism of the lower two unconformity-bounded sequences of the Waterberg Group, South Africa: towards a better-defined apparent polar wander for the Proterozoic Kaapvaal Craton. South African Journal of Geology 2006, 109:157-182.
24. de Wit M.J., Roering C., Hart R.J., Armstrong R.A., de Ronde C.E.J., Green R.W.E., Tedoux M., Perberdy E., Hart R.A. Formation of an Archaean continent. Nature 1992, 357:553-562.
25. de Wit M.J., Thiart C., Doucouré M., Wilsher W. Scent of a supercontinent: Gondwana's ores as chemical tracers-tin, tungsten and the Neoproterozoic Laurentia-Gondwana connection. Journal of African Earth Sciences 1999, 28:35-51.
26. Elming S.-A, Mikhailova N.P., Kravchenko S. Palaeomagnetism of Proterozoic rocks from the Ukrainian Shield: new tectonic reconstructions of the Ukrainian and Fennoscandian shields. Tectonophysics 2001, 339:19-38.
27. Eriksson P.G., Banerjee S., Nelson D.R., Rigby M.J., Catuneanu O., Sarkar S., Roberts R.J., Ruban D., Mtimkulu M.N., Raju S. A Kaapvaal craton debate: nucleus of an early small supercontinent or affected by an enhanced accretion event?. Gondwana Research 2009, 15:354-372.
28. Evans M.E. Test of the dipolar nature of the geomagnetic field throughout Phanerozoic time. Nature 1976, 262:676-678.
29. Evans D.A.D. True polar wander, a supercontinental legacy. Earth Planetary Science Letters 1998, 157:1-8.
30. Evans D.A.D., Gutzmer J., Beukes N.J., Kirschvink J.L. Paleomagnetic constraints on ages of mineralization in the Kalahari Manganese Field, South Africa. Economic Geology 2001, 96:621-631.
31. Evans, D.A.D., Beukes, N.J., Kirschvink, J.L., 2002. Paleomagnetism of a lateritic paleo-weathering horizon and overlying Paleoproterozoic redbeds from South Africa: implications for the Kaapvaal apparent polar wander path and a confirmation of atmospheric oxygen enrichment. Journal of Geophysical Research 107 2326. doi:10.1029/2001JB000432.
32. Goldreich P., Toomre A. Some remarks on polar wandering. Journal of Geophysical Research 1969, 74:2555-2567.
33. Gough D.I. The geoid and single cell mantle convection. Earth Planetary Science Letters 1977, 34:360-364.
34. Gower, C.F., Ryan, A.B., Rivers, T., 1990. Mid-Proterozoic Laurentia-Baltica: an overview of its geological evolution and summary of contributions made by this volume. In: Gower, C.F., Ryan, A.B., Rivers, T. (Eds.). Mid Proterozoic Laurentia-Baltica, GAC Special Paper 38, Geological Association of Canada, 1-22.
35. Groves D.I., Vielreicher R.M., Godfarb R.J., Condie K.C. Controls on the heterogeneous distribution of mineral deposits through time. Mineral Deposits and Earth Evolution 2005, vol. 248:71-101. Geological Society of London Special Publication.
36. Hanson R.E., Wardlaw M.S., Wilson T.J., Mwale G. U-Pb zircon ages from the Hook granite massif and Mwembeshi dislocation: constraints on Pan-African deformation, plutonism and transcurrent shearing in central Zambia. Precambrian Research 1993, 63:189-209.
37. Hattingh P.J The paleomagnetism of the upper zone of Bushveld Complex. Tectonophysics 1989, 165:131-142.
38. Heaman L.M. Global mafic magmatism at 2.45Ga: remnants of an ancient large igneous province?. Geology 1997, 25:299-302.
39. Hollerbach R., Jones C.A. Influence of the Earth's inner core on geomagnetic fluctuations and reversals. Nature 1993, 365:541-543.
40. Kent D.V., Smethurst M.A. Shallow bias of palaeomagnetic inclinations in the Palaeozoic and Precambrian. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 1998, 160:391-402.
41. Le Pichon X., Huchon P. Geoid, Pangaea and convection. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 1984, 67:123-135.
42. Ledru P., Johan V., Millesi J.P., Tegyey M. Markers of the last stage of the Palaeoproterozoic collision: evidence for a 2Ga continent involving cicum-Atlantic provinces. Precambrian Research 1994, 69:169-191.
43. Maruyama S., Santosh M., Zhao D. Superplume, supercontinent, and post-perovskite: mantle dynamics and anti-plate tectonics on the core-mantle boundary. Gondwana Research 2007, 11:7-37.
44. McClennan S.M., Taylor S.R. Geochemical constraints on the growth of the continental crust. Journal of Geology 1982, 90:347-361.
45. McKenzie D.P., Weiss N. Speculations on the thermal and tectonic history of the Earth. Geophysical Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society 1975, 42:131-174.
46. Mertanen S., Halls H.C., Vuollo J.I., Pesonen L.J., Stepanov V.S. Palaeomagnetism of 2.44Ga mafic dykes in Russia Karelia, eastern Fenoscandian Shield-implications for continental reconstructions. Precambrian Research 1999, 98:197-221.
47. Mondal S., Piper J.D.A., Hunt L., Bandyopadhyay G., Basu Mallik S. Palaeomagnetic and rock magnetic study of charnockites from Tamil Nadu, India, and the 'Ur' protocontinent in Early Palaeoproterozoic times. Journal of Asian Earth Sciences 2009, 34:493-506.
48. Morgan G.E, Briden J.C. Aspects of Precambrian palaeomagnetism, with new data from the Limpopo Mobile Belt and Kaapvaal Craton in southern Africa. Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors 1981, 24:142-168.
49. Pesonen L.J., Elming S.-S., Mertanen S., Pisarevsky S., D'Agrella-Filho M.S., Meert J.G., Schmidt P.W., Abrahamsen N., Bylund G. Palaeomagnetic configuration of continents during the Proterozoic. Tectonophysics 2003, 375:289-324.
50. Petrasheck W.E. Some aspects of the relations between continental drift and metallogenic provinces. Implications of Continental Drift to the Earth Sciences 1973, vol. 1:567-572. Academic Press, London.
51. Phillips B.R., Bunge H.-P., Schaber K. True polar wander in mantle convection models with multiple, mobile continents. Gondwana Research 2009, 15:288-296.
52. Piper J.D.A. Analogous Upper Proterozoic apparent polar wander loops. Nature 1980, 283:845-847.
53. Piper J.D.A. The Precambrian palaeomagnetic record: the case for the Proterozoic Supercontinent. Earth Planetary Science Letters 1982, 59:61-89.
54. Piper J.D.A. Palaeomagnetism and the Continental Crust 1987, Open University Press, 488 pp.
55. Piper J.D.A. Consolidation of Continental Crust in Late Archaean-Early Proterozoic times: a Palaeomagnetic test. Gondwana Research 2003, 6:435-448.
56. Piper J.D.A. A ∼90° Late Silurian-Early Devonian apparent polar wander loop: the latest inertial interchange of planet Earth?. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 2006, 250:345-357.
57. Piper J.D.A. The Neoproterozoic Supercontinent Palaeopangaea. Gondwana Research 2007, 12:202-227.
58. Piper J.D.A., Mallik S.B., Bandyopadhyay G., Mondal S., Das A.K. Palaeomagnetic and rock magnetic study of a deeply-exposed continental crustal section: the charnockite belt of Southern India. Precambrian Research 2003, 121:185-219.
59. Poornachandra Rao, G.V.S., Mallikarjuna Rao, J., Reddi, A.E.B., 1989. Preliminary palaeomagnetic and geochemical studies of granulites from Tamil Nadu and Kerala. In: Proceedings of the IASPEI Meeting on Structure and Dynamics of Indian Lithosphere, Hyderabad, pp. 1-3.
60. Prasad C.V.R.K., Pulla Reddy V., Subbarao K.V., Radhakrishnamurty C. Palaeomagnetism and the crescent shape of the Cuddapah Basin, Purana Basins of Peninsula India. Geological Society of India Memoir 1987, 6:331-347.
61. Richter F.M., Parsons B. On the interaction of two scales of convection in the mantle. Journal of Geophysical Research 1976, 80:2529-2541.
62. Rino S., Kon Y., Sato W., Maruyama S., Santosh M., Zhao D. The Grenvillian and Pan-African orogens: World's largest orogenies through geologic time, and their implications on the origin of superplume. Gondwana Research 2008, 14:51-72.
63. Rogers J.J.W. A history of continents in the past three billion years. Journal of Geology 1996, 104:91-107.
64. Rogers J.J.W., Santosh M. Continents and Supercontinents 2004, Oxford University Press, 289 pp.
65. Salminen J., Pesonen L.J., Reimold W.U., Donaldini F., Gibson R.L. Palaeomagnetic and rock magnetic study of the Vredefort impact structure and the Johannesburg Dome, Kaapvaal Craton during the Mesoproterozoic. Precambrian Research 2009, 168:167-184.
66. Santosh M., Maruyama S., Yamamoto S. The making and breaking of supercontinents: some speculations based on superplumes, superdownwelling and the role of tectosphere. Gondwana Research 2009, 15:324-341.
67. Sears J.W., Price R.A. The Siberian connection: a case for the Precambrian separation of the North American and Siberian cratons. Geology 1978, 6:267-270.
68. Sears J.W., Price R.A. New look at the Siberia connection: no SWEAT. Geology 2000, 28:423-426.
69. Senshu H., Maruyama S., Rino S., Santosh M. Role of tonalite-trondhjemite-granite (TTG) crust subduction on the mechanism of supercontinent breakup. Gondwana Research 2009, 15:433-442.
70. Shackleton R.M. Correlations of structures across Precambrian orogenic belts in Africa. Implications of Continental Drift to the Earth Sciences 1973, vol. 2:1091-1095. Academic Press, London.
71. Silver P.G., Behn M.D. Intermittent Plate Tectonics?. Science 2008, 319:85-89.
72. Sinomson B.M., Sumner D.Y., Beukes N.J., Johnson S., Gutzmer J. Correlating multiple Neoarchaean-Palaeoproterozoic impact spherule layers between South Africa and Western Australia. Precambrian Research 2009, 169:100-111.
73. Strik G., Blake T.S., Zegers T.E., White S.H., Langereis C.G. Palaeomagnetism of flood basalts in the Pilbara Craton, Western Australia: Late Archaean continental drift and the oldest known reversal of the geomagnetic field, Journal of Geophysical Research 108. EPM 2003, 2:1-21.
74. Strik G., de Wit M.J., Langereis C.G. Palaeomagnetism of the Neoarchaean Pongola and Ventersdorp Supergroups and an appraisal of the 3.0-1.9Ga apparent polarwander path of the Kaapvaal Craton, Southern Africa. Precambrian Research 2007, 153:96-115.
75. Tsai, V.C., Stevenson, D.J., 2007. Theoretical constraints on true polar wander. Journal of Geophysical Research 112, B5, B05415. doi:10.1029/2005JB003923.
76. Usui, Y., Tarduno, J.H., Watkeys, M., Hofmann, A., Cottrell, R., 2009. Evidence for a 3.45-billion-year-old magnetic remanence: hints of an ancient geodynamo from comglomerates of South Africa. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems 10, Q09207. doi:10.1029/2009GC002496.
77. Watson J.V. Effects of reworking on high-grade gneiss complexes. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London 1973, A273:433-456.
78. Watson J.V. Ore deposition through geological time. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London 1978, A362:305-328.
79. Williams G.E., Schmidt P.W. Palaeomagnetism of the Palaeoproterozoic Gowganda and Lorrain Formations, Ontario: low palaeolatitude for Huronian glaciation. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 1997, 153:157-169.
80. Williams H., Hoffman P.F., Lewry J.F., Monger J.W.H., Rivers T. Anatomy of North America: thematic portrayals of the continent. Tectonophysics 1991, 187:117-134.
81. Windley B.F. The Evolving Continents 1993, John Wiley, New York, 526 pp. 3rd ed.
82. Windley B.F. Uniformitarianism today: plate tectonics is the key to the past. Journal of the Geological Society of London 1993, 150:7-19.
83. Zegers T.E., de Wit M.J., Dann J., White S.H. Vaalbara, Earth's oldest assembled continent? A combined structural, geochronological and palaeomagnetic test. Terra Nova 1998, 10:250-259.
84. Zhao D Multiscale seismic tomography and mantle dynamics. Gondwana Research 2009, 15:297-323.