Archean geodynamics: Ephemeral supercontinents or long-lived supercratons

Liu, Yebo; Mitchell, Ross N.; Li, Zheng‐Xiang; Kirscher, Uwe; Pisarevsky, Sergei A.; Wang, Chong

doi:10.1130/g48575.1

Cited by 45 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…The Paleoproterozoic Era witnessed the transition from an Archean tectonic regime of scattered, small cratons to a more conventional form of plate tectonics (Bleeker, 2003;Liu et al, 2021).…”

Section: Paleoproterozoic Era (C 245 To 18 Ga)mentioning

confidence: 99%

A template for an improved rock-based subdivision of the pre-Cryogenian timescale

Shields

Strachan

Porter

et al. 2021

JGS

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The geological time scale before 720 Ma uses rounded absolute ages rather than specific events recorded in rocks to subdivide time. This has led increasingly to mismatches between subdivisions and the features for which they were named. Here we review the formal processes that led to the current time scale, outline rock-based concepts that could be used to subdivide pre-Cryogenian time and propose revisions. An appraisal of the Precambrian rock record confirms that purely chronostratigraphic subdivision would require only modest deviation from current chronometric boundaries, removal of which could be expedited by establishing event-based concepts and provisional, approximate ages for eon-, era- and period-level subdivisions. Our review leads to the following conclusions: 1) the current informal four-fold Archean subdivision should be simplified to a tripartite scheme, pending more detailed analysis, and 2) an improved rock-based Proterozoic Eon might comprise a Paleoproterozoic Era with three periods (early Paleoproterozoic or Skourian, Rhyacian, Orosirian), Mesoproterozoic Era with four periods (Statherian, Calymmian, Ectasian, Stenian) and a Neoproterozoic Era with four periods (pre-Tonian or Kleisian, Tonian, Cryogenian and Ediacaran). These proposals stem from a wide community and could be used to guide future development of the pre-Cryogenian timescale by international bodies.

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Section: Paleoproterozoic Era (C 245 To 18 Ga)mentioning

confidence: 99%

A template for an improved rock-based subdivision of the pre-Cryogenian timescale

Shields

Strachan

Porter

et al. 2021

JGS

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“…As currently reconstructed 155,158 , the Superia supercraton is estimated to have been about the size of modern-day Antarctica, and so is much smaller than any of the three established supercontinents 74,80 (Fig. 1).…”

Section: Nature Reviews Earth and Environmentmentioning

confidence: 92%

“…Reconstructions based primarily on emplacement ages of radiating dyke swarms 155 , correlative rift basin successions 155,156 , and at least one instance of matching APW paths of two cratons 157 are consistent with the idea of a supercraton called Superia surrounding the Superior craton. There is also at least one instance of an APW path comparison between cratons suggesting that Yilgarn and other cratons were most likely not a part of Superia, which is inconsistent with a single Archaean supercontinent and supportive of the existence of another supercraton geographically distant from Superia 158 .…”

Section: Nature Reviews Earth and Environmentmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…Following the Great Oxidation Event ca. 2.4-2.3 Ga 216 , the occurrence of repeated episodes of glaciation on some (but not all) cratons 158 and documented on supercraton Superia ca. 2.5-2.2 Ga 155 , indicates that some continental crust already had positive continental freeboard [G] above sea level 198,217 .…”

Section: Igneous Geochemistry Provides a Clear Test Between Introversion And Extroversion Withmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…2.5-2.2 Ga 155 , indicates that some continental crust already had positive continental freeboard [G] above sea level 198,217 . Nonetheless, there are as many cratons that do not have evidence for Early Proterozoic glaciation as those that do 158 . The conspicuous absence of such glaciations on many other cratons (for example, Dharwar, Sao Francisco, Slave, Yilgarn, Zimbabwe) suggests that elevated continental freeboard was arguably not a global phenomenon until the amalgamation of Columbia.…”

Section: Igneous Geochemistry Provides a Clear Test Between Introversion And Extroversion Withmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The supercontinent cycle

Mitchell

Zhang

Salminen

et al. 2021

Nat Rev Earth Environ

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138

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Supercontinents signify self-organization in plate tectonics. Over the past ~2 billion years 3 major supercontinents have been identified, with increasing age: Pangaea, Rodinia, and Columbia. In a prototypal form, a cyclic pattern of continental assembly and breakup likely extends back to ~3 billion years ago, albeit on the smaller scale of Archaean supercratons which, unlike global supercontinents, were tectonically segregated. In this Review, we discuss how the emergence of supercontinents provides a minimum age for the onset of the modern global plate tectonic network, whereas Archaean supercratons might reflect an earlier geodynamic and nascent tectonic regime.

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Tectonic affinity and geological significance of the Feidong Complex in the northeastern margin of the Yangtze Craton: Evidence from zircon U–Pb and Lu–Hf isotopes of the basement rocks

Chen,

Li,

Yuan

et al. 2024

Geological Journal

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The Feidong Complex, located on the northeastern margin of the Yangtze Craton, exposes Precambrian basement rocks and is the subject of debate regarding its tectonic affinity. In this study, we conducted in situ U–Pb dating and Hf isotope analyses of zircons from basement rocks within the Feidong Complex. The results reveal crystallisation ages of ca. 2.45, 2.0 and 0.8 Ga for the granitic gneiss, amphibole biotite plagiogneiss and mylonitised monzonitic granite, respectively. The basement rocks with ages of ca. 2.45 and 2.0 Ga exhibit negative zircon εHf(t) values (−10.48 to −0.13) and older two‐stage model ages (TDM2 = 2974 to 3296 Ma). We compared the zircon U–Pb ages and Hf isotopic characteristics of the basement rocks from the Feidong Complex with those of the southern margin of the North China Craton and the northern margin of the Yangtze Craton. Additionally, we also compared the metamorphic grades of rocks between the Feidong Complex and Susong Complex of the Dabie orogenic belt. We found that the Feidong Complex and the northern margin of Yangtze Craton share comparable zircon U–Pb ages and Hf isotopic characteristics. However, the metamorphic grades of the Feidong Complex were distinct from those of the Susong Complex. In particular, the basement rocks with an age of ca. 2.45 Ga formed within a subduction setting; those with an age of ca. 2.0 Ga formed during the subduction and collision associated with the assembly of the Columbia supercontinent; and those with an age of ca. 0.8 Ga experienced extensional processes before the breakup of the Rodinia supercontinent.

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Archean geodynamics: Ephemeral supercontinents or long-lived supercratons

Cited by 45 publications

References 32 publications

A template for an improved rock-based subdivision of the pre-Cryogenian timescale

A template for an improved rock-based subdivision of the pre-Cryogenian timescale

The supercontinent cycle

Tectonic affinity and geological significance of the Feidong Complex in the northeastern margin of the Yangtze Craton: Evidence from zircon U–Pb and Lu–Hf isotopes of the basement rocks

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