A Positive Test of East Antarctica–Laurentia Juxtaposition Within the Rodinia Supercontinent

• DOI: 10.1126/science.1159189
• Publication Date: 2008-07-10T20:47:15Z
• Authors: J. W. Goodge; J. D. Vervoort; C. M. Fanning; D. M. Brecke; G. L. Farmer; I. S. Williams; P. M. Myrow; D. J. DePaolo
• Keywords: Rodinia; Laurentia; Supercontinent; Baltica

The positions of Laurentia and other landmasses in the Precambrian supercontinent Rodinia are controversial. Although geological isotopic data support an East Antarctic fit with western Laurentia, alternative reconstructions favor juxtaposition Australia, Siberia, or South China. New geologic, age, provide a positive test Antarctica: Neodymium isotopes Neoproterozoic rift-margin strata similar; hafnium approximately 1.4-billion-year-old Antarctic-margin detrital zircons match those Laurentian granites similar age; glacial clast A-type granite has uraniun-lead zircon age 1440 million years, epsilon-hafnium initial value +7, epsilon-neodymium +4. These tracers indicate presence Antarctica having same geochemical properties, signatures as distinctive Laurentia.