A positive test of East Antarctica-Laurentia juxtaposition within the Rodinia supercontinent

J. W. Goodge; J. D. Vervoort; C. M. Fanning; D. M. Brecke; G. L. Farmer; I. S. Williams; P. M. Myrow; D. J. DePaolo

doi:10.1126/science.1159189

A positive test of East Antarctica-Laurentia juxtaposition within the Rodinia supercontinent

J. W. Goodge, J. D. Vervoort, C. M. Fanning, D. M. Brecke, G. L. Farmer, I. S. Williams, P. M. Myrow, D. J. DePaolo

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Abstract

The positions of Laurentia and other landmasses in the Precambrian supercontinent of Rodinia are controversial. Although geological and isotopic data support an East Antarctic fit with western Laurentia, alternative reconstructions favor the juxtaposition of Australia, Siberia, or South China. New geologic, age, and isotopic data provide a positive test of the juxtaposition with East Antarctica: Neodymium isotopes of Neoproterozoic rift-margin strata are similar; hafnium isotopes of ∼1.4-billion-year-old Antarctic-margin detrital zircons match those in Laurentian granites of similar age; and a glacial clast of A-type granite has a uraniun-lead zircon age of ∼1440 million years, an epsilon-hafnium initial value of +7, and an epsilon-neodymium initial value of +4. These tracers indicate the presence of granites in East Antarctica having the same age, geochemical properties, and isotopic signatures as the distinctive granites in Laurentia.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	235-240
Number of pages	6
Journal	Science
Volume	321
Issue number	5886
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1159189
Publication status	Published - 11 Jul 2008

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title = "A positive test of East Antarctica-Laurentia juxtaposition within the Rodinia supercontinent",

abstract = "The positions of Laurentia and other landmasses in the Precambrian supercontinent of Rodinia are controversial. Although geological and isotopic data support an East Antarctic fit with western Laurentia, alternative reconstructions favor the juxtaposition of Australia, Siberia, or South China. New geologic, age, and isotopic data provide a positive test of the juxtaposition with East Antarctica: Neodymium isotopes of Neoproterozoic rift-margin strata are similar; hafnium isotopes of ∼1.4-billion-year-old Antarctic-margin detrital zircons match those in Laurentian granites of similar age; and a glacial clast of A-type granite has a uraniun-lead zircon age of ∼1440 million years, an epsilon-hafnium initial value of +7, and an epsilon-neodymium initial value of +4. These tracers indicate the presence of granites in East Antarctica having the same age, geochemical properties, and isotopic signatures as the distinctive granites in Laurentia.",

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AU - Goodge, J. W.

AU - Vervoort, J. D.

AU - Fanning, C. M.

AU - Brecke, D. M.

AU - Farmer, G. L.

AU - Williams, I. S.

AU - Myrow, P. M.

AU - DePaolo, D. J.

PY - 2008/7/11

Y1 - 2008/7/11

N2 - The positions of Laurentia and other landmasses in the Precambrian supercontinent of Rodinia are controversial. Although geological and isotopic data support an East Antarctic fit with western Laurentia, alternative reconstructions favor the juxtaposition of Australia, Siberia, or South China. New geologic, age, and isotopic data provide a positive test of the juxtaposition with East Antarctica: Neodymium isotopes of Neoproterozoic rift-margin strata are similar; hafnium isotopes of ∼1.4-billion-year-old Antarctic-margin detrital zircons match those in Laurentian granites of similar age; and a glacial clast of A-type granite has a uraniun-lead zircon age of ∼1440 million years, an epsilon-hafnium initial value of +7, and an epsilon-neodymium initial value of +4. These tracers indicate the presence of granites in East Antarctica having the same age, geochemical properties, and isotopic signatures as the distinctive granites in Laurentia.

AB - The positions of Laurentia and other landmasses in the Precambrian supercontinent of Rodinia are controversial. Although geological and isotopic data support an East Antarctic fit with western Laurentia, alternative reconstructions favor the juxtaposition of Australia, Siberia, or South China. New geologic, age, and isotopic data provide a positive test of the juxtaposition with East Antarctica: Neodymium isotopes of Neoproterozoic rift-margin strata are similar; hafnium isotopes of ∼1.4-billion-year-old Antarctic-margin detrital zircons match those in Laurentian granites of similar age; and a glacial clast of A-type granite has a uraniun-lead zircon age of ∼1440 million years, an epsilon-hafnium initial value of +7, and an epsilon-neodymium initial value of +4. These tracers indicate the presence of granites in East Antarctica having the same age, geochemical properties, and isotopic signatures as the distinctive granites in Laurentia.

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VL - 321

SP - 235

EP - 240

JO - Science

JF - Science

IS - 5886

ER -

A positive test of East Antarctica-Laurentia juxtaposition within the Rodinia supercontinent

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