Two Neoarchean supercontinents? Evidence from the Paleoproterozoic

Aspler, Lawrence B.; Chiarenzelli, Jeffrey R.

doi:10.1016/s0037-0738(98)00028-1

Cited by 243 publications

(82 citation statements)

References 195 publications

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“…A post-glacial greenhouse condition would have been favorable to planktonic blooms, resulting in increase of oceanic primary productivity and burial of organic matter. The breakup of the supercontinent Kenorland at 2.1 to 2.0 Ga [27] produced many epicontinental shallow sea environments, which provided more living space for organisms. As discussed above, the increase of oceanic primary productivity and burial rate of organic matter may have resulted in the positive shift of carbonate carbon isotope values, i.e.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Paleoproterozoic glaciation: Evidence from carbon isotope record of the Hutuo Group, Wutai Mountain area of Shanxi Province, China

Kong

Zhou

2011

Chin. Sci. Bull.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Paleoproterozoic glaciation: Evidence from carbon isotope record of the Hutuo Group, Wutai Mountain area of Shanxi Province, China

Kong

Zhou

2011

Chin. Sci. Bull.

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“…The only exposed area on the eastern flank of the Wyoming Craton is in the Black Hills, SD. Initiation of the younger rift basin there was likely related to the 2.1 Á/2.0 Ga rifting and final breakup of the Kenorland supercontinent (Aspler and Chiarenzelli, 1998). The younger rift succession unconformably overlies the older rift succession intruded by and infolded with the 21709/120 Ma old Blue Draw Metagabbro (U Á/Pb zircon; Redden et al, 1990).…”

Section: Tectonic Implicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…2.45 Á/2.3 Ga; Young, 1991) accompanied by carbon isotope excursions (Bekker et al, 1999(Bekker et al, , 2001a; 3) A period of enhanced weathering after the end of the Paleoproterozoic glacial epoch (Young, 1973;Marmo, 1992); 4) A second superplume event around 2.25 Ga that formed extensive plateau basalts and dikes, and led to the second stage of rifting and the breakup along some rift systems (Cadman et al, 1993;Lanyon et al, 1993;Cornell et al, 1996;Buchan et al, 1998;Davis, 1997;Martin et al, 1998); 5) A major carbon isotope excursion between ca. 2.2 Á/2.1 Ga not associated with a known glaciation (Karhu and Holland, 1996); 6) A great oxidation event (Karhu and Holland, 1996), and 7) Final breakup of the Kenorland supercontinent at 2.1 Á/2.0 Ga (Aspler and Chiarenzelli, 1998).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Chemostratigraphy of Paleoproterozoic carbonate successions of the Wyoming Craton: tectonic forcing of biogeochemical change?

Bekker

2003

Precambrian Research

143

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“…It is unclear whether Nuna's predecessor was a large supercontinent, or whether it was one of several large, but distinct coeval landmasses (Aspler & Chiarenzelli 1998;Bleeker 2003). Nonetheless, numerous large igneous provinces, with ages between 2.45 and 2.2 Ga, perforate the world's 35 or so Archaean cratons and could represent an episode of globally widespread continental rifting at that time (Heaman 1997;Buchan et al 1998;Ernst & Buchan 2001).…”

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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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Two Neoarchean supercontinents? Evidence from the Paleoproterozoic

Cited by 243 publications

References 195 publications

Paleoproterozoic glaciation: Evidence from carbon isotope record of the Hutuo Group, Wutai Mountain area of Shanxi Province, China

Paleoproterozoic glaciation: Evidence from carbon isotope record of the Hutuo Group, Wutai Mountain area of Shanxi Province, China

Chemostratigraphy of Paleoproterozoic carbonate successions of the Wyoming Craton: tectonic forcing of biogeochemical change?

Palaeoproterozoic supercontinents and global evolution: correlations from core to atmosphere

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