High-temperature granulites and supercontinents

The formation of continents involves a combination of magmatic and metamorphic processes. These processes become indistinguishable at the crust-mantle interface, where the pressure-temperature（P-T）conditions of（ultra） high-temperature granulites and magmatic rocks are similar. Continents grow laterally, by magmatic activity above oceanic subduction zones（high-pressure metamorphic setting）, and vertically by accumulation of mantle-derived magmas at the base of the crust（high-temperature metamorphic setting）. Both events are separated from each other in time; the vertical accretion postdating lateral growth by several tens of millions of years. Fluid inclusion data indicate that during the high-temperature metamorphic episode the granulite lower crust is invaded by large amounts of low H2O-activity fluids including high-density CO2 and concentrated saline solutions（brines）. These fluids are expelled from the lower crust to higher crustal levels at the end of the high-grade metamorphic event. The final amalgamation of supercontinents corresponds to episodes of ultra-high temperature metamorphism involving large-scale accumulation of these low-water activity fluids in the lower crust.This accumulation causes tectonic instability, which together with the heat input from the subcontinental lithospheric mantle, leads to the disruption of supercontinents. Thus, the fragmentation of a supercontinent is already programmed at the time of its amalgamation.

Precambrian supercontinents,glaciations,atmospheric oxygenation,metazoan evolution and an impact that may have changed the second half of Earth history

In more than 4 Ga of geological evolution, the Earth has twice gone through extreme climatic perturba- tions, when extensive glaciations occurred, together with alternating warm periods which were accom- panied by atmospheric oxygenation. The younger of these two episodes of climatic oscillation preceded the Cambrian ＂explosion＂ of metazoan life forms, but similar extreme climatic conditions existed between about 2.4 and 2.2 Ga. Over long time periods, changing solar luminosity and mantle temperatures have played important roles in regulating Earth＇s climate but both periods of climatic upheaval are associated with supercontinents. Enhanced weathering on the orogenically and thermally buoyed supercontinents would have stripped CO2 from the atmosphere, initiating a cooling trend that resulted in continental glaciation. Ice cover prevented weathering so that CO2 built up once more, causing collapse of the ice sheets and ushering in a warm climatic episode. This negative feedback loop provides a plausible explanation for multiple glaciations of the Early and Late Proterozoic, and their intimate association with sedimentary rocks formed in warm climates. Between each glacial cycle nutrients were flushed into world oceans, stimulating photosynthetic activity and causing oxygenation of the atmosphere. Accommodation for many ancient glacial deposits was provided by rifting but escape from the climatic cycle was predicated on break- up of the supercontinent, when flooded continental margins had a moderating influence on weathering. The geochemistry of Neoproterozoic cap carbonates carries a strong hydrothermal signal, suggesting that they precipitated from deep sea waters, overturned and spilled onto continental shelves at the termination of glaciations. Paleoproterozoic （Huronian） carbonates of the Espanola Formation were probably formed as a result of ponding and evaporation in a hydrothermally influenced, restricted rift setting. Why did metazoan evolution not take off after the Great Oxidation Event of the Paleoproterozoic？ The answer may lie in the huge scar left by the -2023 Ma Vredefort impact in South Africa, and in the worldwide organic carbon-rich deposits of the Shunga Event, arresting to the near-extirpation of life and possible radical alteration of the course of Earth history.

Speculations on the mechanisms for the formation and breakup of supercontinents

The supercontinent cycle has had a profound effect on the Earth＇s evolution since the Late Archean but our understanding of the forces responsible for its operation remains elusive.Supercontinents appear to form by two end-member processes：extroversion,in which the oceanic lithosphere surrounding the supercontinent（exterior ocean） is preferentially subducted（e.g.Pannotia）,and introversion in which the oceanic lithosphere formed between dispersing fragments of the previous supercontinent（interior ocean） is preferentially subducted（e.g.Pangea）.Extroversion can be explained by ＂top-down＂ geodynamics, in which a supercontinent breaks up over a geoid high and amalgamates above a geoid low. Introversion,on the other hand,requires that the combined forces of slab-pull and ridge push（which operate in concert after supercontinent break-up） must be overcome in order to enable the previously dispersing continents to turn inward.Introversion may begin when subduction zones are initiated along boundaries between the interior and exterior oceans and become trapped within the interior ocean.We speculate that the reversal in continental motion required for introversion may be induced by slab avalanche events that trigger the rise of superplumes from the core-mantle boundary.

Strange attractors, spiritual interlopers and lonely wanderers:The search for pre-Pangean supercontinents

The observation is made that there are very strong similarities between the supercontinents Columbia, Rodinia and Pangea. If plate tectonics was operating over the past 2.5 billion years of Earth history, and dominated by extroversion and introversion of ocean basins, it would be unusual for three superconti-nents to resemble one another so closely. The term＇strange attractor＇ is applied to landmasses that form a coherent geometry in all three supercontinents. Baltica, Laurentia and Siberia form a group of＇strange attractors＇ as do the elements of East Gondwana （India, Australia, Antarctica, Madagascar）. The elements of ＂West Gondwana＂ are positioned as a slightly looser amalgam of cratonic blocks in all three super-continents and are referred to as ＇spiritual interlopers＇. Relatively few landmasses （the South China, North China, Kalahari and perhaps Tarim cratons） are positioned in distinct locations within each of the three supercontinents and these are referred to as＇lonely wanderers＇. 〈br〉 There may be several explanations for why these supercontinents show such remarkable similarities. One possibility is that modern-style plate tectonics did not begin until the late Neoproterozoic and horizontal motions were restricted and a vertical style of ＇lid tectonics＇ dominated. If motions were limited for most of the Proterozoic, it would explain the remarkable similarities seen in the Columbia and Rodinia supercontinents, but would still require the strange attractors to rift, drift and return to approximately the same geometry within Pangea. 〈br〉 A second possibility is that our views of older supercontinents are shaped by well-known connections documented for the most recent supercontinent, Pangea. It is intriguing that three of the four ＇lonely wanderers＇ （Tarim, North China, South China） did not unite until just before, or slightly after the breakup of Pangea. The fourth＇lonely wanderer＇, the Kalahari （and core Kaapvaal） craton has a somewhat unique Archean-age geology compared to its nearest neighbors in Gondwana, but very similar to that in western Australia.

Characteristics and genetic mechanism of the Mesoproterozoic rift system,Ordos Basin,China

The Mesoproterozoic rifts are developed in the Ordos Basin located in the western margin of the North China Plate.Based on the latest 3D seismic data and previous research results,this study intends to discuss the zonal differential deformation characteristics and genetic mechanism of the Mesoproterozoic rifts in the Ordos Basin.NE-trending rifts are developed in the Mesoproterozoic in the south-central Ordos Basin,the main part of which are located near the western margin of the North China Plate.NNW-trending rifts are developed in the north of the basin,while NW-NNW rifts in the Mesoproterozoic in Hangjinqi area.The genetic mechanism of the Mesoproterozoic rifts is related to regional extensional stress field,plate boundary conditions and internal preexisting structures.The main extensional stress direction strikes NWW-SSE(120°)in the western margin of the North China Plate,based on the forward rift trend of the northern Mesoproterozoic.In Hangjinqi area,the reactivation of the existing NWtrending Wulansu fault and NW-NW-trending Daolao fault,results in dextral shear stress field.The boundary between the western margin of the North China Plate and its adjacent plates forms a nearly NS-trending preexisting basement tectonic belt,which intersects with the NWW-SSE(120°)extensional stress at an acute angle of 60°.Therefore,the western margin of the North China Plate is formed by oblique normal faults under oblique extension.Due to the long time span of Columbia Supercontinent breakup(1.8e1.6 Ga),the oblique rift in the south-central Ordos Basin is formed under the continuous oblique extension at the western margin of the North China Plate.

Petrogenesis and Rb-Sr Isotopic Characteristics of Paleo-Mesoproterozoic Mirgarani Granite Sonbhadra Uttar Pradesh India:Geodynamics Implication for Supercontinent Cycle

The Rb-Sr whole-rock isochron,age 1636±66 Ma of Mirgarani granite,is the one of the oldest granite dated in the northwestern part of the Chhotanagpur Granite Gneiss Complex(CGGC).The initial Sr ratio is 0.715±0.012(MSWD=0.11),showing an S-type affinity.The Mirgarani granite has intruded the migmatite complex of the Dudhi Group and forms the Mirgarani formation comparable to the granites of the Bihar Mica Belt around Hazaribagh(1590±30 Ma).The present studies have established the chronostratigraphy of the Dudhi Group and adjoining areas in CGGC.Petro-graphic and geochemical studies revealed that the granite is enriched in Rb(271 ppm),Pb(77 ppm),Th(25 ppm),and U(33 ppm)and depleted in Sr(95 ppm),Nb(16 ppm),Ba(399 ppm)and Zr(143 ppm)contents as compared to the normal granite.The Mirgarani granite is a peraluminous(A/CNK=1.23),high potassic(K_(2)O 6.42%),Calc-Alkalic to Alkali-Calcic{(Na_(2)O+K_(2)O)-CaO=6.29}S-Type granite,a feature supported by the presence of modal garnet and normative corundum(2.68%).The Mirgarani granite is considered to have been formed by the anatexis of a crustal sedimentary protolith at a depth of approximately 30 km with temperatures ranging from 685-700℃ during the Co-lumbian-Nuna Supercontinent.

The boring billion? - Lid tectonics, continental growth and environmental change associated with the Columbia supercontinent

The evolution of Earth＇s biosphere,atmosphere and hydrosphere is tied to the formation of continental crust and its subsequent movements on tectonic plates.The supercontinent cycle posits that the continental crust is periodically amalgamated into a single landmass,subsequently breaking up and dispersing into various continental fragments.Columbia is possibly the first true supercontinent,it amalgamated during the 2.0-1.7 Ga period,and collisional orogenesis resulting from its formation peaked at 1.95-1.85 Ga.Geological and palaeomagnetic evidence indicate that Columbia remained as a quasi-integral continental lid until at least 1.3 Ga.Numerous break-up attempts are evidenced by dyke swarms with a large temporal and spatial range; however,palaeomagnetic and geologic evidence suggest these attempts remained unsuccessful.Rather than dispersing into continental fragments,the Columbia supercontinent underwent only minor modifications to form the next supercontinent （Rodinia） at 1.1 -0.9 Ga; these included the transformation of external accretionary belts into the internal Grenville and equivalent collisional belts.Although Columbia provides evidence for a form of ‘lid tectonics’,modern style plate tectonics occurred on its periphery in the form of accretionary orogens.The detrital zircon and preserved geological record are compatible with an increase in the volume of continental crust during Columbia＇s lifespan; this is a consequence of the continuous accretionary processes along its margins.The quiescence in plate tectonic movements during Columbia＇s lifespan is correlative with a long period of stability in Earth＇s atmospheric and oceanic chemistry.Increased variability starting at 1.3 Ga in the environmental record coincides with the transformation of Columbia to Rodinia; thus,the link between plate tectonics and environmental change is strengthened with this interpretation of supercontinent history.

Supercontinent tectonics and biogeochemical cycle:A matter of 'life and death'

The formation and disruption of supercontinents have significantly impacted mantle dynamics, solid earth processes, surface environments and the biogeochemical cycle. In the early history of the Earth, the collision of parallel intra-oceanic arcs was an important process in building embryonic continents. Superdownwelling along Y-shaped triple junctions might have been one of the important processes that aided in the rapid assembly of continental fragments into closely packed supercontinents. Various models have been proposed for the fragmentation of supercontinents including thermal blanket and superplume hypotheses. The reassembly of supercontinents after breakup and the ocean closure occurs through ＂introversion＂, ＂extroversion＂ or a combination of both, and is characterized by either Pacific-type or Atlantic-type ocean closure. The breakup of supercontinents and development of hydro- thermal system in rifts with granitic basement create anomalous chemical environments enriched in nutri- ents, which serve as the primary building blocks of the skeleton and bone of early modern life forms. A typical example is the rifting of the Rodinia supercontinent, which opened up an N--S oriented sea way along which nutrient enriched upwelling brought about a habitable geochemical environment. The assembly of supercontinents also had significant impact on life evolution. The role played by the Cambrian Gondwana assembly has been emphasized in many models, including the formation of ＇Trans- gondwana Mountains＇ that might have provided an effective source of rich nutrients to the equatorial waters, thus aiding the rapid increase in biodiversity. The planet has witnessed several mass extinction events during its history, mostly connected with major climatic fluctuations including global cooling and warming events, major glaciations, fluctuations in sea level, global anoxia, volcanic eruptions, asteroid impacts and gamma radiation. Some recent models speculate a relationship between superplumes, supercontinent breakup and mass extinction. Upwelling plumes cause continental rifting and formation of large igneous provinces. Subsequent volcanic emissions and resultant plume-induced ＂winter＂ have catastrophic effect on the atmosphere that lead to mass extinctions and long term oceanic anoxia. The assembly and dispersal of continents appear to have influenced the biogeochemical cycle, but whether the individual stages of organic evolution and extinction on the planet are closely linked to Solid Earth processes remains to be investigated.

Decoding earth’s plate tectonic history using sparse geochemical data

Accurately mapping plate boundary types and locations through time is essential for understanding the evolution of the plate-mantle system and the exchange of material between the solid Earth and surface environments.However,the complexity of the Earth system and the cryptic nature of the geological record make it difficult to discriminate tectonic environments through deep time.Here we present a new method for identifying tectonic paleo-environments on Earth through a data mining approach using global geochemical data.We first fingerprint a variety of present-day tectonic environments utilising up to 136 geochemical data attributes in any available combination.A total of 38301 geochemical analyses from basalts aged from 5-0 Ma together with a well-established plate reconstruction model are used to construct a suite of discriminatory models for the first order tectonic environments of subduction and mid-ocean ridge as distinct from intraplate hotspot oceanic environments,identifying 41,35,and 39 key discriminatory geochemical attributes,respectively.After training and validation,our model is applied to a global geochemical database of 1547 basalt samples of unknown tectonic origin aged between 1000-410 Ma,a relatively ill-constrained period of Earth’s evolution following the breakup of the Rodinia supercontinent,producing 56 unique global tectonic environment predictions throughout the Neoproterozoic and Early Paleozoic.Predictions are used to discriminate between three alternative published Rodinia configuration models,identifying the model demonstrating the closest spatio-temporal consistency with the basalt record,and emphasizing the importance of integrating geochemical data into plate reconstructions.Our approach offers an extensible framework for constructing full-plate,deeptime reconstructions capable of assimilating a broad range of geochemical and geological observations,enabling next generation Earth system models.

High Ba-Sr adakitic charnockite suite from the Nagercoil Block,southern India:Vestiges of Paleoproterozoic arc and implications for Columbia to Gondwana

The Nagercoil block is the southernmost crustal segment of the Southern Granulite Terrane(SGT)in India and is mainly composed of charnockitic rocks and felsic gneisses(charnockite suite).In this study,we present petrologic,geochemical,zircon U-Pb,REE,and Hf isotopic studies on the charnockites and leucogneiss from the Nagercoil block.Based on field investigations and petrologic studies,the charnockites can be divided into garnet-bearing and garnet-absent anhydrous granulite facies rocks with orthopyroxene.The charnockites and leucogneiss show transition from adakites to non-adakitic magmatic rocks,with enrichment in LREEs(light rare earth elements)and LILEs(large ion lithophile elements),and depletion in HREEs(heavy rare earth elements)and HFSEs(high field strength elements).Some of the charnockites and the leucogneiss show typical HSA(high silica adakite)characters,(high SiO_(2),Al_(2)O_(3),Ba-Sr,La/Yb,and Sr/Y).The HSA is considered to have formed from the interaction of slab derived melts and peridotitic mantle wedge.The high Ba-Sr features were possibly inherited from subducted oceanic crust melting under high thermal gradient during Precambrian.The magmas were underplated and subjected to fractional crystallization.Zircon grains from the charnockite and leucogneiss show zoned magmatic cores surrounded by structureless metamorphic rims.Magmatic zircon grains from the charnockites show ages ranging from 1983±8.8 Ma to 2046±14 Ma,and the metamorphic domains show an age range of 502±14 Ma to 547±8.7 Ma.Zircon from the leucogneiss yielded magmatic and metamorphic ages of 1860±20 Ma and 575.6±8.8 Ma.Both charnockites and leucogneiss show two prominent age peaks at 1987 Ma and 568 Ma.The REE data of the zircon grains show LREE depletion and HREE enrichment,with the metamorphic grains showing more depletion in HREE.Zircon Hf isotopic data of the magmatic cores of zircon grains from the charnockite yieldedε_(Hf)(t)values from-1.17 to 0.46 with T_(DM)and T_(DM)~C and age peaks at 2392 Ma and 2638 Ma,suggesting Neoarchean to Paleoproterozoic juvenile sources.We suggest that the high Ba-Sr adakitic charnockite suite from the Nagercoil block formed in a Paleoproterozoic magmatic arc setting during the assembly of the Columbia supercontinent,and underwent high-grade metamorphism associated with the amalgamation of the Gondwana supercontinent during the late Neoproterozoic-Cambrian.Our study provides new insights into the vestiges of Columbia fragments within the Gondwana assembly with two distinct cycles of crustal evolution.

Did prolonged two-stage fragmentation of the supercontinent Kenorland lead to arrested orogenesis on the southern margin of the Superior province?

Recent geochronological investigations reinforce the early suggestion that the upper part of the Paleoproterozoic Huronian Supergroup of Ontario, Canada is present in the Animikie Basin on the south shore of Lake Superior. These rocks, beginning with the glaciogenic Gowganda Formation, are interpreted as passive margin deposits. The absence of the lower Huronian （rift succession） from the Animikie Basin may be explained by attributing the oldest Paleoroterozoic rocks in the Animikie Basin （Chocolay Group） to deposition on the upper plate of a north-dipping detachment fault, which lacks sediments of the rift phase. Following thermal uplift that led to opening of the Huronian Ocean on the south side of what is now the Superior province, renewed uplift （plume activity） caused large-scale gravitational folding of the Huronian Supergroup accompanied by intrusion of the Nipissing diabase suite and Senneterre dikes at about 2.2 Ga. Termination of passive margin sedimentation is normally followed by ocean closure but in the Huronian and Animikie basins there was a long hiatus - the Great Stratigraphic Gap - which lasted for about 350 Ma. This hiatus is attributed to a second prolonged thermal uplift of part of Kenorland that culminated in complete dismemberment of the supercontinent shortly before 2.0 Ga by opening of the Circum-Superior Ocean. These events caused regional uplift （the Great Stratigraphic Gap） and delayed completion of the Huronian Wilson Cycle until a regional compressional tectonic episode, including the Penokean orogeny, belatedly flooded the southern margin of the Superior province with foreland basin deposits, established the limits of the Superior structural province and played an important role in constructing Laurentia.

信阳周庄变辉长岩LA-ICPMS U-Pb定年与华北南缘复杂演化过程

河南信阳周庄变基性侵入岩体出露于华北克拉通南缘,主要由斜长石+角闪石(+绿帘石)组成,可见残余辉长结构,属经历了绿帘角闪岩相-低角闪岩相变质的变辉长岩。对变辉长岩的两个样品中的锆石进行了LA-ICPMS U-Pb同位素测年分析。这两个样品都给出了859Ma的谐和上交点年龄,但分别给出了356±82Ma和234±36Ma的谐和下交点年龄。其中一个样品还给出了另外两组谐和的年龄,它们的^(206)Pb/^(238)U表面年龄分别是616±10Ma和442±6.5Ma。我们解释共同的谐和上交点年龄(859Ma)代表着岩体的侵位时代,是Rodinia超大陆裂解事件在华北克拉通南缘的早期记录(如基性岩浆侵入作用);其他四组年龄是岩体后期所经历改造事件的年龄记录,包括新元古代晚期的再次裂解(如变质重结晶作用)和古生代、早中生代时期扬子克拉通向北的俯冲-碰撞对华北南缘的强烈改造过程。

Paleoproterozoic volcanic rocks in the southern margin of the North China Craton, central China:Implications for the Columbia supercontinent

The volcanic rocks of the Xiong’er Group are situated in the southern margin of the North China Craton(NCC).Research on the Xiong er Group is important to understand the tectonic evolution of the NCC and the Columbia supercontinent during the Paleoproterozoic.In this study,to constrain the age of the Xiong’er volcanic rocks and identify its tectonic environment,we report zircon LA-ICP-MS data with Hf isotope,whole-rock major and trace element compositions and Sr-Nd-Pb-Hf isotopes of the volcanic rocks of the Xiong’er Group.The Xiong’er volcanic rocks mainly consist of basaltic andesite,andesite.dacite and rhyolite,with minor basalt.Our new sets of data combined with those from previous studies indicate that Xiong’er volcanism should have lasted from 1827 Ma to 1746 Ma as the major phase of the volcanism.These volcanics have extremely low MgO.Cr and Ni contents,are enriched in LREEs and LILEs but depleted in HFSEs(Nb,Ta,and Ti),similar to arc-related volcanic rocks.They are characterized by negative zirconεHft values of-17.4 to 8.8,whole-rock initial 87Sr/86Sr values of 0.7023 to 0.7177 andεNd(t)values of-10.9 to 6.4.and Pb isotopes(206Pb/204Pb=14.366-16.431,207Pb/204Pb=15.106-15.371,208Pb/204Pb=32.455-37.422).The available elemental and Sr-Nd-Pb-Hf isotope data suggest that the Xiong’er volcanic rocks were sourced from a mantle contaminated by continental crust.The volcanic rocks of the Xiong’er Group might have been generated by high-degree partial melting of a lithospheric mantle that was originally modified by oceanic subduction in the Archean.Thus,we suggest that the subduction-modified lithospheric mantle occurred in an extensional setting during the breakup of the Columbia supercontinent in the Late Paleoproterozoic,rather than in an arc setting.

Mid—Late Neoproterozoic rift-related volcanic rocks in China:Geological records of rifting and break-up of Rodinia

Early Cambrian and Mid--Late Neoproterozoic volcanic rocks in China are widespread on several Precambrian continental blocks, which had aggregated to form part of the Rodinia supercon- tinent by ca. 900 Ma. On the basis of petrogeochemical data, the basic lavas can be classified into two major magma types： HT （Ti/Y 〉 500） and LT （Ti/Y 〈 500） that can be further divided into HT1 （Nb/La 〉 0.85） and HT2 （Nb/La ≤ 0.85）, and LT1 （Nb/La 〉 0.85） and LT2 （Nb/La ≤ 0.85） subtypes, respectively. The geochemical variation of the HT2 and LT2 lavas can be accounted for by lithospheric contamination of asthenosphere- （or plume-） derived magmas, whereas the parental magmas of the HT1 and LT1 lavas did not undergo, during their ascent, pronounced lithospheric contamination. These volcanics exhibit at least three characteristics： （1） most have a compositional bimodality; （2） they were formed in an intracontinental rift setting; and （3） they are genetically linked with mantle plumes or a mantle surperplume. This rift-related volcanism at end of the Mid-- Neoproterozoic and Early Cambrian coincided temporally with the separation between Australia-- East Antarctica, South China and Laurentia and between Australia and Tarim, respectively.

Voyage of the Indian subcontinent since Pangea breakup and driving force of supercontinent cycles: Insights on dynamics from numerical modeling

Recent advances in three-dimensional numerical simulations of mantle convection have aided in approximately reproducing continental movement since the Pangea breakup at 200 Ma. These have also led to a better understanding of the thermal and mechanical coupling between mantle convection and surface plate motion and predictions of the configuration of the next supercontinent. The simulations of mantle convection from 200 Ma to the present reveals that the development of large-scale cold mantle downwellings in the North Tethys Ocean at the earlier stage of the Pangea breakup triggered the northward movement of the Indian subcontinent. The model of high temperature anomaly region beneath Pangea resulting from the thermal insulation effect support the breakup of Pangea in the real Earth time scale, as also suggested in previous geological and geodynamic models. However, considering the low radioactive heat generation rate of the depleted upper mantle, the high temperature anomaly region might have been generated by upwelling plumes with contribution of deep subducted TTG(tonalite-trondhjemite-granite) materials enriched in radiogenic elements. Integrating the numerical results of mantle convection from 200 Ma to the present, and from the present to the future, it is considered that the mantle drag force acting on the base of continents may be comparable to the slab pull force, which implies that convection in the shallower part of the mantle is strongly coupled with surface plate motion.

The dominant driving force for supercontinent breakup: Plume push or subduction retreat?

Understanding the dominant force responsible for supercontinent breakup is crucial for establishing Earth＇s geodynamic evolution that includes supercontinent cycles and plate tectonics. Conventionally,two forces have been considered： the push by mantle plumes from the sub-continental mantle which is called the active force for breakup, and the dragging force from oceanic subduction retreat which is called the passive force for breakup. However, the relative importance of these two forces is unclear. Here we model the supercontinent breakup coupled with global mantle convection in order to address this question. Our global model features a spherical harmonic degree-2 structure, which includes a major subduction girdle and two large upwelling（superplume） systems. Based on this global mantle structure,we examine the distribution of extensional stress applied to the supercontinent by both subsupercontinent mantle upwellings and subduction retreat at the supercontinent peripheral. Our results show that：（1） at the center half of the supercontinent, plume push stress is ～3 times larger than the stress induced by subduction retreat;（2） an average hot anomaly of no higher than 50 K beneath the supercontinent can produce a push force strong enough to cause the initialization of supercontinent breakup;（3） the extensional stress induced by subduction retreat concentrates on a ～600 km wide zone on the boundary of the supercontinent, but has far less impact to the interior of the supercontinent. We therefore conclude that although circum-supercontinent subduction retreat assists supercontinent breakup, sub-supercontinent mantle upwelling is the essential force.

Paleoproterozoic Nb-enriched meta-gabbros in the Quanji Massif,NW China:Implications for assembly of the Columbia supercontinent

Diverse models have been proposed for the role of the Tarim Craton within the Paleoproterozoic Columbia supercontinent assembly. Here we report a suite of-1.71 Ga Nb-enriched meta-gabbro lenses in the eastern Quanji Massif, within the Tarim Craton in NW China. The meta-gabbroic rocks have Nb contents of 11.5-16.4 ppm with Nb/La ratios varying from 0.84 to 1.02((Nb/La)_N = 0.81-0.98) and Nb/U ratios from 38.0 to 47.2. They show low SiO_2(45.1-48.5 wt.%) and MgO(5.96-6.81 wt.%) and Mg#(Mg# = Mg/(Mg + Fe) = 43.5-47.7), high FeO^t(13.0-15.7 wt.%) and moderate Ti02(1.70-2.51 wt.%).with tholeiitic affinities. These rocks possess low fractionated REE patterns without obvious Eu anomalies(Eu/Eu~* = 0.87-1.02). Their primitive mantle-normalized elements patterns display significant Zr-Hf troughs, positive Nb anomalies, weak negative Ti and P anomalies, and high contents of Rb and Ba,resembling Nb-enriched basalts generated in arc-related tectonic settings. Their arc-like geochemical signatures together with whole rock εNd(t) values of 0.4-2.1 and corresponding old T_(DM)(2.22-2.37 Ga)as well as(^(143)Nd/^(144)Nd)_t and(^(87)Sr/^(86)Sr)t(t = 1712 Ma) values of 0.5104-0.5105 and 0.7030-0.7058,respectively, suggest that their precursor magma originated from mantle wedge peridotite metasomatised by subduction-derived melts. The results from our study reveal subduction along the eastern periphery of the Tarim Craton and marginal outgrowth continuing to ~1.7 Ga within the Columbia supercontinent.

Spatio-temporal evolution of the Satpura Mountain Belt of India:A comparison with the Capricorn Orogen of Western Australia and implication for evolution of the supercontinent Columbia

Reconstruction of the Neoproterozoic supercontinent Rodinia shows near neighbour positions of the South Indian Cratons and Western Australian Cratons. These cratonic areas are characterized by extensive Paleoproterozoic tectonism. Detailed analysis of the spatio-temporal data of the Satpura Mountains of India indicates presence of at least three episodes of Proterozoic orogeny at ~ 2100-1900 Ma, ~ 1850 Ma and ~ 1650 Ma, and associated basin development and closing. A subdued imprint of the Grenville orogeny （~ 950 Ma） is also found in rock records of this Mountain Belt. The Capricorn Orogen of Western Australia also shows three episodes of orogeny： Opthalmian-Glenburgh Orogeny （2100-1950 Ma）, Capricorn Orogeny （ ~ 1800 Ma） and Mangaroon Orogeny （ ~ 1650 Ma）, and basin opening and closing related to these tectonic movements. These broad similarities suggest their joint evolution possibly in a near neighbour posi- tion during Paleoproterozoic Era. In view of juxtaposition of the Western Australia along the east coast of India, at the position of the Eastern Ghats, during Archean, it is suggested that the breaking of this Archean megacraton at - 2400 Ma led to northward movement of the broken components and formation of the Satpura-Capricorn Orogen （at - 2100 and - 1800 Ma） due to the collision of cratonic blocks with the pre- existing northern cratonic nuclei of India and Western Australia. This is also the time of formation of thesupercontinent Columbia. A phase of basin opening followed the ~ 1800 Ma event, followed by another phase of collisional event at - 1600 Ma at the site of the Satpura--Capricorn Orogen. Subsequent evolutions of the Satpura and the Capricorn Orogens differ slightly, indicating separate evolutional history.

Neoproterozoic–Early Paleozoic Tectonic Evolution of the South China Craton： New Insights from the Polyphase Deformation in the Southwestern Jiangnan Orogen

A 〉1500–km–long northeast–southwest trending Neoproterozoic metamorphic belt in the South China Craton（SCC） consists of subduction mélange and extensional basin deposits. This belt is present under an unconformity of Devonian–Carboniferous sediments. Tectonic evolution of the Neoproterozoic rocks is crucial to determining the geology of the SCC and further influences the reconstruction of the Rodinia supercontinent. A subduction mélange unit enclosed ca.1000–850–Ma mafic blocks, which defined a Neoproterozoic ocean that existed within the SCC, is exposed at the bottom of the Jiangnan Orogen（JO） and experienced at least two phases deformation. Combined with new（detrital） zircon U–Pb ages from metasandstones, as well as igneous rocks within the metamorphic belt, we restrict the strongly deformed subduction mélange as younger than the minimum detrital age ca. 835 Ma and older than the ca. 815 Ma intruded granite. Unconformably overlying the subduction mélange and the intruded granite, an intra–continental rift basin developed 〈800 Ma that involved abundant mantle inputs, such as mafic dikes. This stratum only experienced one main phase deformation. According to our white mica ^40Ar/^（30）Ar data and previously documented thermochronology, both the Neoproterozoic mélange and younger strata were exhumed by a 490–400–Ma crustal–scale positive flower structure. This orogenic event probably induced the thick–skinned structures and was accompanied by crustal thickening, metamorphism and magmatism and led to the closure of the pre–existing rift basin. Integrating previously published data and our new results, we agree that the SCC was located on the periphery of the Rodinia supercontinent from the Neoproterozic until the Ordovician. Furthermore, we prefer that the convergence and dispersal of the SCC were primarily controlled by oceanic subduction forces that occurred within or periphery of the SCC.

Refnement of the supercontinent cycle with Hf, Nd and Sr isotopes

The combined use of Hf,Nd and Sr isotopes is more useful in understanding the supercontinent cycle than the use of only Hf isotopic data from detrital zircons.Sr and Nd seawater isotopes,although not as precise as εNd and εHf distributions,also record input from ocean ridge systems.Unlike detrital zircons where sources cannot be precisely located because of crustal recycling,both the location and tectonic setting often can be constrained for whole-rock Nd isotopic data.Furthermore,primary zircon sources may not reside on the same continent as derivative detrital zircons due to supercontinent breakup and assembly.Common to all of the isotopic studies are geographic sampling biases reflecting outcrop distributions,river system sampling,or geologists,and these may be responsible for most of the decorrelation observed between isotopic systems.Distributions between 3.5 and 2 Ga based on εHf median values of four detrital zircon databases as well as our compiled εNd database are noisy but uniformly distributed in time,whereas data between 2 and 1 Ga data are more tightly clustered with smaller variations.Grouped age peaks suggest that both isotopic systems are sampling similar types of orogens.Only after 1 Ga and before 3.5 Ga do we see wide variations and significant disagreement between databases,which may partially reflect variations in both the number of sample locations and the number of samples per location.External and internal orogens show similar patterns in εNd and εHfwith age suggesting that both juvenile and reworked crustal components are produced in both types of orogens with similar proportions.However,both types of orogens clearly produce more juvenile isotopic signatures in retreating mode than in advancing mode.Many secular changes in εHf and εNd distributions correlate with the supercontinent cycle.Although supercontinent breakup is correlated with short-lived decreasing εHf and εNd （≤ 100 Myr） for most supercontinents,there is no isotopic evidence for the breakup of the Paleoproterozoic supercontinent Nuna.Assembly of supercontinents by extroversion is recorded by decreasing εNd in granitoids and metasediments and decreasing εHf in zircons,attesting to the role of crustal reworking in external orogens in advancing mode.As expected,seawater Sr isotopes increase and seawater Nd isotopes decrease during supercontinent assembly by extroversion.Pangea is the only supercontinent that has a clear isotopic record of introversion assembly,during which median εNd and εHf rise rapidly for ≤ 100 Myr.Although expected to increase,radiogenic seawater Sr decreases （and seawater Nd increases） during assembly of Pangea,a feature that may be caused by juvenile input into the oceans from new ocean ridges and external orogens in retreating mode.The fact that a probable onset of plate tectonics around 3 Ga is not recorded in isotopic distributions may be due the existence of widespread felsic crust formed prior to the onset of plate tectonics in a stagnant lid tectonic regime,as supported by Nd and Hf model ages.