Late Neoproterozoic 40 intraplate rotation within Australia allows for a tighter-fitting and longer-lasting Rodinia

Research Article| January 01, 2011 Late Neoproterozoic 40° intraplate rotation within Australia allows for a tighter-fitting and longer-lasting Rodinia Zheng-Xiang Li; Zheng-Xiang Li 1The Institute for Geoscience Research (TIGeR), Department of Applied Geology, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, Perth, WA 6845, Australia Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar David A.D. Evans David A.D. Evans 2Department of Geology and Geophysics, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8109, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Geology (2011) 39 (1): 39–42. https://doi.org/10.1130/G31461.1 Article history received: 08 Jun 2010 rev-recd: 03 Aug 2010 accepted: 07 Aug 2010 first online: 09 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Zheng-Xiang Li, David A.D. Evans; Late Neoproterozoic 40° intraplate rotation within Australia allows for a tighter-fitting and longer-lasting Rodinia. Geology 2011;; 39 (1): 39–42. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G31461.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract Previous paleomagnetic work has appeared to demand the breakup of southwest United States−East Antarctic (SWEAT) type Rodinia reconstructions before ca. 750 Ma, significantly earlier than the stratigraphic record of rift-drift transition between 715 Ma and 650 Ma. Here we reanalyze Australian paleomagnetic and regional tectonic data to produce a model in which the Precambrian Australian continent had a slightly different configuration before the breakup of Rodinia. A cross-continental megashear zone developed along the Paterson and Petermann orogens at ca. 650–550 Ma, during or after the breakup of Rodinia, manifested as an ∼40° clockwise rotation of the South and West Australian cratons relative to the North Australian craton around a vertical axis in Central Australia. This model reconciles major paleomagnetic discrepancies within Australia, and allows for a longer lifespan of SWEAT-like reconstructions of Rodinia that are consistent with the Neoproterozoic stratigraphic records of Australia and Laurentia. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.