The changing face of late Precambrian and early Palaeozoic reconstructions

The SWEAT hypothesis, linking the Southwest US and East Antarctica as conjugate rift margins of a Neoproterozoic continent has lead to major revisions of late Precambrian and early Cambrian reconstructions. Geological evidence summarized here supports separation of Antarctica from Laurentia c. 750 Ma ago. A possible link between the break-up of a Neoproterozoic supercontinent and amalgamation of Gondwana during Pan-African times suggests that the Neoproterozoic was a time of rapid tectonic change. This conflicts with those theories that predict regular supercontinental cycles of 500 Ma from the time of disintegration of one supercontinent to its eventual reassembly.

Details

Publication status:
Published
Author(s):
Authors: Storey, B.C.

Date:
1 January, 1993
Journal/Source:
Journal of the Geological Society / 150
Page(s):
665-668
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):
https://doi.org/10.1144/gsjgs.150.4.0665