Orogenic climax of Earth: The 1.2-1.1 Ga Grenvillian superevent
The rate of growth of the continental crust is controversial. We present an evaluation of time-constrained analyses of oxygen isotopes in zircon grains and incompatible element (Zr, Th) concentrations in magmatic rocks to test for variations in the degree of crustal recycling through geological time...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Journal Article |
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2013
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/15973 |
| _version_ | 1848749041491378176 |
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| author | Van Kranendonk, M. Kirkland, Chris |
| author_facet | Van Kranendonk, M. Kirkland, Chris |
| author_sort | Van Kranendonk, M. |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | The rate of growth of the continental crust is controversial. We present an evaluation of time-constrained analyses of oxygen isotopes in zircon grains and incompatible element (Zr, Th) concentrations in magmatic rocks to test for variations in the degree of crustal recycling through geological time. The data indicate a rise in these geochemical proxies from ca. 3.0 Ga to a statistically significant peak at 1.2–1.1 Ga during the amalgamation of supercontinent Rodinia, and a decrease thereafter. When combined with other geological and geophysical observations, the data are interpreted as a consequence of an unprecedented level of crustal recycling and sediment subduction during Rodinia assembly, arising from a “Goldilocks” (i.e., just right) combination of larger, thicker plates on a warmer Earth with more rapid continental drift relative to modern Earth. The subsequent decrease in δ18O, Zr, and Th measurements is interpreted to reflect decreasing drift rates on a cooling Earth. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T07:14:38Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-15973 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T07:14:38Z |
| publishDate | 2013 |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-159732017-09-13T14:08:02Z Orogenic climax of Earth: The 1.2-1.1 Ga Grenvillian superevent Van Kranendonk, M. Kirkland, Chris The rate of growth of the continental crust is controversial. We present an evaluation of time-constrained analyses of oxygen isotopes in zircon grains and incompatible element (Zr, Th) concentrations in magmatic rocks to test for variations in the degree of crustal recycling through geological time. The data indicate a rise in these geochemical proxies from ca. 3.0 Ga to a statistically significant peak at 1.2–1.1 Ga during the amalgamation of supercontinent Rodinia, and a decrease thereafter. When combined with other geological and geophysical observations, the data are interpreted as a consequence of an unprecedented level of crustal recycling and sediment subduction during Rodinia assembly, arising from a “Goldilocks” (i.e., just right) combination of larger, thicker plates on a warmer Earth with more rapid continental drift relative to modern Earth. The subsequent decrease in δ18O, Zr, and Th measurements is interpreted to reflect decreasing drift rates on a cooling Earth. 2013 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/15973 10.1130/G34243.1 restricted |
| spellingShingle | Van Kranendonk, M. Kirkland, Chris Orogenic climax of Earth: The 1.2-1.1 Ga Grenvillian superevent |
| title | Orogenic climax of Earth: The 1.2-1.1 Ga Grenvillian superevent |
| title_full | Orogenic climax of Earth: The 1.2-1.1 Ga Grenvillian superevent |
| title_fullStr | Orogenic climax of Earth: The 1.2-1.1 Ga Grenvillian superevent |
| title_full_unstemmed | Orogenic climax of Earth: The 1.2-1.1 Ga Grenvillian superevent |
| title_short | Orogenic climax of Earth: The 1.2-1.1 Ga Grenvillian superevent |
| title_sort | orogenic climax of earth: the 1.2-1.1 ga grenvillian superevent |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/15973 |