The spots and stains of plate tectonics

This paper describes a synthesis characterized by broad scope, substantial support, and some speculation. The framework for the synthesis is the speculative concept that the process of convergence and collision of large landmasses disrupts the fluid regime of the collision zone and adjoining areas. The disturbed fluids leave a record of their disruption and transport in great spots and stains. Some of these spots and stains persist in the modern geologic record where they are known as mineral deposits, mineral occurrences, oil fields, gas fields, tar sands, diagenesis, authigenesis, metamorphism, dolomitization, fluid inclusions, and paleoremagnetization. Various observed characteristics of these phenomena provide supporting evidence of such diversity and consistency that the concept seems firmly rooted in observation. Nevertheless, many opportunities for further testing remain. If the synthesis is more or less correct, then a major link between plate tectonics, or global-scale geodynamics, and a wide variety of terrestrial geological observations of lesser scale is in hand.