EARLY STAGE OF THE CENTRAL ASIAN OROGENIC BELT BUILDING: EVIDENCES FROM THE SOUTHERN SIBERIAN CRATON

The origin of the Central-Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB), especially of its northern segment nearby the southern margin of the Siberian craton (SC) is directly related to development and closure of the Paleo-Asian Ocean (PAO). Signatures of early stages of the PAO evolution are recorded in the Late Precambrian sedimentary successions of the Sayan-Baikal-Patom Belt (SBPB) on the southern edge of SC. These successions are spread over 2000 km and can be traced along this edge from north-west (Sayan area) to south-east (Baikal area) and further to north-east (Patom area). Here we present the synthesis of all available and reliable LA-ICP-MS U-Pb geochronological studies of detrital zircons from these sedimentary successions.The origin of the Central-Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB), especially of its northern segment nearby the southern margin of the Siberian craton (SC) is directly related to development and closure of the Paleo-Asian Ocean (PAO). Signatures of early stages of the PAO evolution are recorded in the Late Precambrian sedimentary successions of the Sayan-Baikal-Patom Belt (SBPB) on the southern edge of SC. These successions are spread over 2000 km and can be traced along this edge from north-west (Sayan area) to south-east (Baikal area) and further to north-east (Patom area). Here we present the synthesis of all available and reliable LA-ICP-MS U-Pb geochronological studies of detrital zircons from these sedimentary successions

Unraveling the New England orocline, east Gondwana accretionary margin

The New England orocline lies within the Eastern Australian segment of the Terra Australis accretionary orogen and developed during the late Paleozoic to early Mesozoic Gondwanide Orogeny (310–230 Ma) that extended along the Pacific margin of the Gondwana supercontinent. The orocline deformed a pre-Permian arc assemblage consisting of a western magmatic arc, an adjoining forearc basin and an eastern subduction complex. The orocline is doubly vergent with the southern and northern segments displaying counter-clockwise and clockwise rotation, respectively, and this has led to contrasting models of formation. We resolve these conflicting models with one that involves buckling of the arc system about a vertical axis during progressive northward translation of the southern segment of the arc system against the northern segment, which is pinned relative to cratonic Gondwana. Paleomagnetic data are consistent with this model and show that an alternative model involving southward motion of the northern segment relative to the southern segment and cratonic Gondwana is not permissible. The timing of the final stage of orocline formation (~270–265 Ma) overlaps with a majorgap in magmatic activity along this segment of the Gondwana margin, suggesting that northward motion and orocline formation were driven by a change from orthogonal to oblique convergence and coupling between the Gondwana and Pacific plates

Amalgamating eastern Gondwana: The evolution of the Circum-Indian Orogens

The Neoproterozoic global reorganisation that saw the demise of Rodinia and the amalgamation of Gondwana took place during an incredibly dynamic period of Earth evolution. To better understand the palaeogeography of these times, and hence help quantify the interrelations between tectonics and other Earth systems, we here integrate Neoproterozoic palaeomagnetic solutions from the various blocks that made up eastern Gondwana, with the large amount of recent geological data available from the orogenic belts that formed as eastern Gondwana amalgamated. From this study, we have: (1) identified large regions of pre-Neoproterozoic crust within late Neoproterozoic/Cambrian orogenic belts that significantly modify the geometry and number of continental blocks present in the Neoproterozoic world; (2) suggested that one of these blocks, Azania, which consists of Archaean and Palaeoproterozoic crust within the East African Orogen of Madagascar, Somalia, Ethiopia and Arabia, collided with the Congo/Tanzania/Bangweulu Block at ∼650-630 Ma to form the East African Orogeny; (3) postulated that India did not amalgamate with any of the Gondwana blocks until the latest Neoproterozoic/Cambrian forming the Kuunga Orogeny between it and Australia/Mawson and coeval orogenesis between India and the previously amalgamated Congo/Tanzania/Bangweulu-Azania Block (we suggest the name 'Malagasy Orogeny' for this event); and, (4) produced a palaeomagnetically and geologically permissive model for Neoproterozoic palaeogeography between 750 and 530 Ma, from the detritus of Rodinia to an amalgamated Gondwana. © 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Alan S. Collins and Sergei A. Pisarevskyhttp://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/503329/description#descriptio

Plate tectonics on early Earth? Weighing the paleomagnetic evidence

ABSTRACT Paleomagnetism is the only quantitative method available to test for lateral motions by tectonic plates across the surface of ancient Earth. Here, we present several analyses of such motions using strict quality criteria from the global paleomagnetic database of pre-800 Ma rocks. Extensive surface motion of cratons can be documented confi dently to older than ca. 2775 Ma, but considering only the most reliable Archean data, we cannot discern differential motion from true polar wander (which can also generate surface motions relative to the geomagnetic reference frame). In order to fi nd evidence for differential motions between pairs of Precambrian cratons, we compared distances between paleomagnetic poles through precisely isochronous intervals for pairs of cratons. The existing database yields several such comparisons with ages ranging from ca. 1110 to ca. 2775 Ma. Only one pair of these ages, 1110-1880 Ma, brackets signifi cantly different apparent polar wander path lengths between the same two cratons and thus demonstrates differential surface motions. If slightly less reliable paleomagnetic results are considered, however, the number of comparisons increases dramatically, and an example is illustrated for which a single additional pole could constrain differential cratonic motion into the earliest Paleoproterozoic and late Neoarchean (in the interval 2445-2680 Ma). In a separate analysis based in part upon moderately reliable paleomagnetic poles, if a specifi c reconstruction is chosen for Laurentia and Baltica between ca. 1265 and 1750 Ma, then those cratons' rotated apparent polar wander paths show convergence and divergence patterns that accord with regional tectonics and appear to be remarkably similar to predictions from a plate-tectonic conceptual model. Carefully targeted and executed future paleomagnetic studies of the increasingly well-dated Precambrian rock record can imminently extend these tests to ca. 2700 Ma, and with substantially more effort, to perhaps as old as ca. 3500 Ma

Siberia and Rodinia

An analysis of the Riphean sedimentary successions along the margins of the Siberian craton, together with recent geochronological and palaeomagnetic data from Siberia, require a revision of the hypothesis that Siberia was part of Rodinia. Some previously proposed Laurentia–Siberia reconstructions may be dismissed, whereas other models are permissible with minor modifications and conservative assumptions about recent geochronological data from Siberia. A comparison of Laurentian and Siberian apparent polar wander paths between 1050 and 1000 Ma shows a striking similarity. However, if Siberia was part of Rodinia, it was probably not contiguous with the Laurentian craton. In this scenario, northern and southern (Stanovoy block) margins of Siberia are possible candidates for conjunction with the rest of Rodinia. We propose a new reconstruction of Laurentia and Siberia at ca. 1050–1000 Ma.25 page(s

New Barium Volatile Complexes Useful in CVD

New volatile barium precursors based on pivaloyltrifluoroacetone are obtained and studied. The results of X-ray structure determination of two compounds are given

Fennoscandia before Nuna/Columbia: Paleomagnetism of 1.98–1.96 Ga mafic rocks of the Karelian craton and paleogeographic implications

© 2017 Elsevier B.V.Numerous mafic dykes, sills and intrusions with ages between 1985 Ma and 1960 Ma are exposed near the Onega Lake in southern Karelia, Russia. The paleomagnetic analysis of these rocks has revealed a stable remanence with directions belonging to two groups. The directions of the first group characterize ten intrusions including the dated 1970 ± 3 Ma Unoi sill and 1976 ± 9 Ma Suna River Canyon dolerite, the corresponding paleomagnetic pole is 44.4°N, 101.5°E, A95 = 6.3°. The second group comprises two intrusions including the 1984 ± 8 Ma Pudozhgora intrusion and Krestoviy Navolok dyke with the corresponding paleopole calculated from 5 site mean poles is 60.9°N, 144.8°E, A95 = 6.8°. Both remanence directions are supported by robust baked contact tests. We propose the first group's pole as the key 1975 Ma Fennoscandian pole. The second one is well dated, but based only on two intrusions without proper averaging of the paleosecular variations. We have also carried out a complimentary paleomagnetic study of the previously investigated 2504 Ma Shalskiy gabbronorite dyke. The remanence of this dyke is now supported by the inverse contact test and statistics can be improved. Using our 1975 Ma pole together with coeval poles from Superior, Slave and Amazonia cratons we propose a provisional 1975 Ma paleogeographic reconstruction

Assembly and Breakup of Rodinia (Some results of IGCP project 440)

The principal results of project 440 "Assembly and Breakup of Rodinia" of the International Geological Correlation Programme (IGCP) are reviewed in this work. A map of that supercontinent compiled using geological and paleomagnetic data describes global paleogeography 900 Ma ago. The assembly of Rodinia, which comprised most of Precambrian continental blocks, lasted ca. 400 m.y. (from 1300 to 900 Ma). Its breakup presumably triggered by mantle superplume took place between 830 and 650 Ma. The correlation between tectonic events in different continental blocks is considered. Some problems concerning the Rodinia reconstruction and history, e.g., the slow growth of juvenile crust and effects of mantle-plume events during the amalgamation period and of glaciations at the breakup time, are discussed. The latter caused changes in the biosphere and climate, whereas postglacial periods stimulated progress in biota evolution