Closure of the Proterozoic Mozambique Ocean was instigated by a late Tonian plate reorganization event

Alan S. Collins, Morgan L. Blades, Andrew S. Merdith, John D. Foden
2021 Communications Earth & Environment  
AbstractPlate reorganization events involve fundamental changes in lithospheric plate-motions and can influence the lithosphere-mantle system as well as both ocean and atmospheric circulation through bathymetric and topographic changes. Here, we compile published data to interpret the geological record of the Neoproterozoic Arabian-Nubian Shield and integrate this with a full-plate tectonic reconstruction. Our model reveals a plate reorganization event in the late Tonian period about 720
more » ... years ago that changed plate-movement directions in the Mozambique Ocean. After the reorganization, Neoproterozoic India moved towards both the African cratons and Australia-Mawson and instigated the future amalgamation of central Gondwana about 200 million years later. This plate kinematic change is coeval with the breakup of the core of Rodinia between Australia-Mawson and Laurentia and Kalahari and Congo. We suggest the plate reorganization event caused the long-term shift of continents to the southern hemisphere and created a pan-northern hemisphere ocean in the Ediacaran.
doi:10.1038/s43247-021-00149-z fatcat:7vszcr4nkfhjbifbbufwwyrp3y