Evidence for a Large-Scale Reorganization of Early Cambrian Continental Masses by Inertial Interchange True Polar Wander

Abstract

Analysis of Vendian to Cambrian paleomagnetic data shows anomalously fast rotations and latitudinal drift for all of the major continents. These motions are consistent with an Early to Middle Cambrian inertial interchange true polar wander event, during which Earth's lithosphere and mantle rotated about 90 degrees in response to an unstable distribution of the planet's moment of inertia. The proposed event produces a longitudinally constrained Cambrian paleogeography and accounts for rapid rates of continental motion during that time.

Two competing Paleomagnetic directions in the Late Vendian: New data for the SW Region of the Siberian Platform

“…[92] Our results contradict the interpretation of the paleomagnetic data obtained earlier by Kirschvink and Rozanov, [1984] on Lower Cambrian of the Siberian platform as proving the hypothesis of the Inertial Interchange True Polar Wander [Kirschvink et al, 1997], our model being an alternative relative to this hypothesis.…”

“…These regions include the peripheral part of the platform in its southwestern area, its northeastern area (Kharaulakh Mts. ), the Patom Highland, the Udzha and Olenek uplifts, the Uchur-Maya region, and other areas [Gurevich, 1981[Gurevich, , 1983Komissarova, 1983Komissarova, , 1984Komissarova, , 1991Komissarova and Osipova, 1986;Konstantinov, 1998;Kravchinsky et al, 2001;Pavlov and Petrov, 1997; 1681-1208 (online) al., 2004; Pisarevsky et al, 2000;Rodionov, 1984;Shatsillo et al, 2001]. However, in spite of the numerous studies that have been carried out for more than thirty years, the position of the Vendian paleomagnetic pole of Siberia has not been determined unambiguously.…”

Treatise Online, no. 38: Part E, Revised, Volume 4, Chapter 18: General features of the Archaeocyatha

“…Among global paleogeographic reconstructions proposed for the early Cambrian (e.g., roZ A n o v , 1984; Z o n e n s h A i n , KuZmin, & Kononov, 1985;scoTese & mcKerroW, 1990;courJAulT-rADé, Debrenne, & gAnDin, 1992;KirschvinK, 1992;mcKerroW, scoTese, & brAsier, 1992;sToreY, 1993;DAlZiel, DAllA sAlDA, & gAhAgAn, 1994;TorsviK & others, 1996;KirschvinK, riPPerDAn, & evAns, 1997;liebermAn, 1997;smiTh, 2001;golonKA, 2002;meerT & liebermAn, 2008;rino & others, 2008), those that best fit the archaeocyathan distribution portray a postsupercontinental world (Rodinian or Pannotian) with the major epicontinental basins within the intertropical zone. The inferred pathways of archaeocyathan migration, coupled with the use of the Jaccard similarity coefficient applied to the total local Cambrian faunas, calculated for NemakitDaldynian-early Tommotian, early Atdabanian, and late Atdabanian-Botoman intervals, support those paleogeographic reconstructions suggesting the existence of East and West Gondwana in the early Cambrian, as proposed by moores (1991) and KirschvinK (1992), with their subsequent collision by the late early Cambrian (cAWooD, 2005;PAulsen & others, 2007), the rifting of Laurentia from the AustralianAntarctic margin, and the drift of suspect terranes toward Siberia (Debrenne, mAiDAnsKAYA, & ZhurAvlev, 1999).…”

A palaeomagnetic and palaeobiogeographical perspective on latest Neoproterozoic and early Cambrian tectonic events

“…The palaeogeography of the latest Neoproterozoic interval is the subject of considerable controversy based principally on the myriad interpretations of palaeomagnetic poles from Laurentia (Symons & Chiasson 1991;Meert et al 1994;Powell 1995;Torsvik et al 1996Torsvik et al , 1998Kirschvink et al 1997;Evans 1998Evans , 2003Meert 1999;Pisarevsky et al 2000;Meert & Van der Voo 2001). These models can be broadly classified into three endmember reconstructions.…”