Ancient Supercontinents and the Paleogeography of Earth offers a systematic examination of Precambrian cratons and supercontinents. Through detailed maps of drift histories and paleogeography of each continent, this book examines topics related to Earth’s tectonic evolution prior to Pangea, including plate kinematics, orogenic development, and paleoenvironments. Additionally, this book discusses the methodologies used, principally paleomagnetism and tectonostratigraphy, and addresses geophysical topics of mantle dynamics and geodynamo evolution over billions of years. Structured clearly with consistent coverage for Precambrian cratons, this book combines state-of-the-art paleomagnetic and geochronologic data to reconstruct the paleogeography of the Earth in the context of major climatic events such as global glaciations. It is an ideal, up-to-date reference for geoscientists and geographers looking for answers to questions surrounding the tectonic evolution of Earth.
1. Title of Book - p. i 2. Cover image - p. i 3. Title page - p. ii 4. Table of Contents - p. iii 5. Copyright - p. iv 6. List of contributors - p. xi 7. About the editors - p. xiii 8. Preface - p. xv 9. Chapter 1. Precambrian supercontinents and supercycles—an overview - p. 1 10. Chapter 2. A mantle dynamics perspective on the drift of cratons and supercontinent formation in Earth’s history - p. 51 11. Chapter 3. Precambrian geomagnetic field—an overview - p. 81 12. Chapter 4. The Precambrian paleogeography of Laurentia - p. 109 13. Chapter 5. The Precambrian drift history and paleogeography of Baltica - p. 155 14. Chapter 6. The Precambrian drift history and paleogeography of Amazonia - p. 207 15. Chapter 7. The Precambrian drift history and paleogeography of Río de la Plata craton - p. 243 16. Chapter 8. Precambrian paleogeography of Siberia - p. 263 17. Chapter 9. Whence Australia: Its Precambrian drift history and paleogeography - p. 277 18. Chapter 10. The Precambrian drift history and paleogeography of India - p. 305 19. Chapter 11. The Precambrian drift history and paleogeography of the Chinese cratons - p. 333 20. Chapter 12. The Precambrian drift history and paleogeography of the Kalahari Craton - p. 377 21. Chapter 13. Constraints on the Precambrian paleogeography of West African Craton - p. 423 22. Chapter 14. The Precambrian drift history and paleogeography of Congo−São Francisco craton - p. 445 23. Chapter 15. Neoarchean–Paleoproterozoic supercycles - p. 465 24. Chapter 16. Paleo-Mesoproterozoic Nuna supercycle - p. 499 25. Chapter 17. Meso-Neoproterozoic Rodinia supercycle - p. 549 26. Chapter 18. Phanerozoic paleogeography and Pangea - p. 577 27. Chapter 19. An expanding list of reliable paleomagnetic poles for Precambrian tectonic reconstructions - p. 605 28. Index - p. 641
Ancient Supercontinents and the Paleogeography of Earth offers a systematic examination of Precambrian cratons and supercontinents. Through detailed maps of drift histories and paleogeography of each continent, this book examines topics related to Earth’s tectonic evolution prior to Pangea, including plate kinematics, orogenic development, and paleoenvironments. Additionally, this book discusses the methodologies used, principally paleomagnetism and tectonostratigraphy, and addresses geophysical topics of mantle dynamics and geodynamo evolution over billions of years. Structured clearly with consistent coverage for Precambrian cratons, this book combines state-of-the-art paleomagnetic and geochronologic data to reconstruct the paleogeography of the Earth in the context of major climatic events such as global glaciations. It is an ideal, up-to-date reference for geoscientists and geographers looking for answers to questions surrounding the tectonic evolution of Earth.
1. Title of Book - p. i 2. Cover image - p. i 3. Title page - p. ii 4. Table of Contents - p. iii 5. Copyright - p. iv 6. List of contributors - p. xi 7. About the editors - p. xiii 8. Preface - p. xv 9. Chapter 1. Precambrian supercontinents and supercycles—an overview - p. 1 10. Chapter 2. A mantle dynamics perspective on the drift of cratons and supercontinent formation in Earth’s history - p. 51 11. Chapter 3. Precambrian geomagnetic field—an overview - p. 81 12. Chapter 4. The Precambrian paleogeography of Laurentia - p. 109 13. Chapter 5. The Precambrian drift history and paleogeography of Baltica - p. 155 14. Chapter 6. The Precambrian drift history and paleogeography of Amazonia - p. 207 15. Chapter 7. The Precambrian drift history and paleogeography of Río de la Plata craton - p. 243 16. Chapter 8. Precambrian paleogeography of Siberia - p. 263 17. Chapter 9. Whence Australia: Its Precambrian drift history and paleogeography - p. 277 18. Chapter 10. The Precambrian drift history and paleogeography of India - p. 305 19. Chapter 11. The Precambrian drift history and paleogeography of the Chinese cratons - p. 333 20. Chapter 12. The Precambrian drift history and paleogeography of the Kalahari Craton - p. 377 21. Chapter 13. Constraints on the Precambrian paleogeography of West African Craton - p. 423 22. Chapter 14. The Precambrian drift history and paleogeography of Congo−São Francisco craton - p. 445 23. Chapter 15. Neoarchean–Paleoproterozoic supercycles - p. 465 24. Chapter 16. Paleo-Mesoproterozoic Nuna supercycle - p. 499 25. Chapter 17. Meso-Neoproterozoic Rodinia supercycle - p. 549 26. Chapter 18. Phanerozoic paleogeography and Pangea - p. 577 27. Chapter 19. An expanding list of reliable paleomagnetic poles for Precambrian tectonic reconstructions - p. 605 28. Index - p. 641
