Neoarchean disaggregation and reassembly of the Superior craton

Research Article| November 01, 2014 Neoarchean disaggregation and reassembly of the Superior craton Jean H. Bédard; Jean H. Bédard * 1Geological Survey of Canada, 490 de la Couronne, Québec, Québec G1K 9A9, Canada *E-mail: jbedard@nrcan.gc.ca. Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Lyal B. Harris Lyal B. Harris 2Institut national de la recherche scientifique, Centre – Eau Terre Environnement, 490 de la Couronne, Québec, Québec G1K 9A9, Canada Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Jean H. Bédard * 1Geological Survey of Canada, 490 de la Couronne, Québec, Québec G1K 9A9, Canada Lyal B. Harris 2Institut national de la recherche scientifique, Centre – Eau Terre Environnement, 490 de la Couronne, Québec, Québec G1K 9A9, Canada *E-mail: jbedard@nrcan.gc.ca. Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 14 Apr 2014 Revision Received: 14 Aug 2014 Accepted: 15 Aug 2014 First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 © 2014 Geological Society of America Geology (2014) 42 (11): 951–954. https://doi.org/10.1130/G35770.1 Article history Received: 14 Apr 2014 Revision Received: 14 Aug 2014 Accepted: 15 Aug 2014 First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation Jean H. Bédard, Lyal B. Harris; Neoarchean disaggregation and reassembly of the Superior craton. Geology 2014;; 42 (11): 951–954. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G35770.1 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 The southern and western Superior craton of Canada (SWSC) is widely considered to be a tectonic collage accreted from north to south by multiple coeval subduction zones. We propose an alternative non–plate tectonic scenario where SWSC continental fragments are not exotic but derived by partial disaggregation of a heterogeneous older (Superior I) craton in response to a mantle overturn event that started at ca. 2780 Ma. During overturn, radial mantle outflow stretched and disaggregated the lithosphere to create the concentric Neoarchean fabric of the Superior craton, the southern part of which (SWSC) broke up into ribbon continents separated by oceanic tracts. Neoarchean calc-alkaline magmas record interaction between plume-related magma and older crust. A change in the mantle flow field at ca. 2720 Ma caused southward drift of the Northern Superior cratonic block as a result of mantle traction on its lithospheric keel, and SWSC terranes accreted to its leading edge. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.