The intensity, occurrence, and duration of superplume events and eras over geological time

Abbott, D. H.; Isley, Ann E.

doi:10.1016/s0264-3707(02)00024-8

Cited by 123 publications

(57 citation statements)

References 133 publications

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“…(c) Modelled plate velocities using 'conventional' and 'plate tectonic' scaling laws summarized by Korenaga (2008c). (d) Temporal distribution of large igneous provinces (LIPs) presented as time series (Abbott & Isley 2002) and number per 100 Ma (from data compiled by Ernst & Buchan 2001). Height axis refers to peak height formed by adding gaussians defined by ages and age errors (see Abbott & Isley 2002 for details).…”

Section: Evolution Of the Corementioning

confidence: 99%

Palaeoproterozoic supercontinents and global evolution: correlations from core to atmosphere

Reddy

Evans

2009

115

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The Palaeoproterozoic era was a time of profound change in Earth evolution and represented perhaps the first supercontinent cycle, from the amalgamation and dispersal of a possible Neoarchaean supercontinent to the formation of the 1.9-1.8 Ga supercontinent Nuna. This supercontinent cycle, although currently lacking in palaeogeographic detail, can in principle provide a contextual framework to investigate the relationships between deep-Earth and surface processes. In this article, we graphically summarize secular evolution from the Earth's core to its atmosphere, from the Neoarchaean to the Mesoproterozoic eras (specifically 3.0-1.2 Ga), to reveal intriguing temporal relationships across the various 'spheres' of the Earth system. At the broadest level our compilation confirms an important deep-Earth event at c. 2.7 Ga that is manifested in an abrupt increase in geodynamo palaeointensity, a peak in the global record of large igneous provinces, and a broad maximum in several mantle-depletion proxies. Temporal coincidence with juvenile continental crust production and orogenic gold, massive-sulphide and porphyry copper deposits, indicate enhanced mantle convection linked to a series of mantle plumes and/or slab avalanches. The subsequent stabilization of cratonic lithosphere, the possible development of Earth's first supercontinent and the emergence of the continents led to a changing surface environment in which voluminous banded iron-formations could accumulate on the continental margins and photosynthetic life could flourish. This in turn led to irreversible atmospheric oxidation at 2.4-2.3 Ga, extreme events in global carbon cycling, and the possible dissipation of a former methane greenhouse atmosphere that resulted in extensive Palaeoproterozoic ice ages. Following the great oxidation event, shallow marine sulphate levels rose, sediment-hosted and iron-oxide-rich metal deposits became abundant, and the transition to sulphide-stratified oceans provided the environment for early eukaryotic evolution. Recent advances in the geochronology of the global stratigraphic record have made these inferences possible. Frontiers for future research include more refined modelling of Earth's thermal and geodynamic evolution, palaeomagnetic studies of geodynamo intensity and continental motions, further geochronology and tectonic syntheses at regional levels, development of new isotopic systems to constrain geochemical cycles, and continued innovation in the search for records of early life in relation to changing palaeoenvironments.

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Section: Evolution Of the Corementioning

confidence: 99%

Palaeoproterozoic supercontinents and global evolution: correlations from core to atmosphere

Reddy

Evans

2009

115

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“…Generally the origin of episodicity has been attributed to mantle thermal behaviour. This is either as gradual changes associated with the growth and fragmentation of supercontinents, the socalled Wilson Cycle, as a result of processes such as thermal shielding (Condie 2002), or more catastrophic, non-linear events, referred to as superplumes (Abbott & Isley 2002;Condie 1998;Larson 1991b) or mantle avalanches (Butler & Peltier 1997;Machetel 2003;Solheim & Peltier 1994). In this paper, we review the evidence for timing and nature of two episodes of Mesozoic terrane accretion and deformation (summarized in Tables 1 and 2).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Episodicity of Mesozoic terrane accretion along the Pacific margin of Gondwana: implications for superplume-plate interactions

Vaughan

Livermore

2005

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A review of evidence for deformation and terrane accretion on the Late Triassic-Early Jurassic margins of Pangaea and the mid-Cretaceous margins of the palaeo-Pacific ocean shows that deformation was global and synchronous with probable superplume events. Late Triassic-Early Jurassic deformation appears to be concentrated in the period 202–197 Ma and was coeval with eruption of the Central Atlantic Magmatic Province, onset of Pangaea break-up, a period of extended normal magnetic polarity and a major mass extinction event, all possible expressions of a superplume event. Mid-Cretaceous deformation occurred in two brief periods, the first from approximately 116 Ma to 110 Ma in the west palaeo-Pacific and the second from roughly 105 Ma to 99 Ma in the east palaeo-Pacific, with both events possibly represented in northeast Siberia. This deformation was coeval with eruption of major oceanic plateaux, core-complex formation and rifting of New Zealand from Gondwana, the Cretaceous normal polarity epoch, and a major radiation of flowering plants and several animal groups, all linked with the mid-Cretaceous superplume event. A simple unifying mechanism is presented suggesting that large continental or oceanic plates, when impacted by a superplume, tend to break-up/reorganize, associated with gravitational spreading away from a broad, thermally generated topographic high and with a resulting short-lived pulse of plate-marginal deformation and terrane accretion.

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“…Also from a temporal point of view, activity is limited, starting with the eruption of flood basalts, and ending with the termination of the plume tail. Geological evidence for an increase in size and frequency of flood basalt eruptions for the younger Earth has been presented by Abbott and Isley (2002), corresponding to a decrease in distance in both space and time. However, Ernst et al (2005) note that there are still many uncertainties which hinder such trend analyses.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Svensen et al 2004). On the early Earth, flood basalt eruptions were both larger and more frequent (Abbott and Isley 2002). Therefore, they were probably a more important factor in the atmosphere/hydrosphere volatile balance.…”

Section: Non-steady State Contributionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Water, Life, and Planetary Geodynamical Evolution

et al. 2007

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In our search for life on other planets over the past decades, we have come to understand that the solid terrestrial planets provide much more than merely a substrate on which life may develop. Large-scale exchange of heat and volatile species between planetary interiors and hydrospheres/atmospheres, as well as the presence of a magnetic field, are important factors contributing to the habitability of a planet. This chapter reviews these processes, their mutual interactions, and the role life plays in regulating or modulating them.

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The intensity, occurrence, and duration of superplume events and eras over geological time

Cited by 123 publications

References 133 publications

Palaeoproterozoic supercontinents and global evolution: correlations from core to atmosphere

Palaeoproterozoic supercontinents and global evolution: correlations from core to atmosphere

Episodicity of Mesozoic terrane accretion along the Pacific margin of Gondwana: implications for superplume-plate interactions

Water, Life, and Planetary Geodynamical Evolution

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