A geotectonic paradox: Has the Earth expanded?
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
From the recognition of common apparent polar-wander (CAPW) paths for Africa, Australia, Greenland, and North America in the early Proterozoic, we have deduced that these continents today occupy approximately the same relative locations on the globe as they did in the early Proterozoic. However, there is abundant geochemical, geological, geochronological and tectonic evidence for landmasses having been much less dispersed in the Precambrian than they are now. It is shown in this paper that an Earth of about half the present radius accomodates the present continents in such a manner that this paradox can be satisfactorily resolved, and we propose that between about 1,600 Myr and 1,000 Myr ago, the Earth expanded to approximately its present dimensions. A change from Proterozoic to Phanerozoic tectonic styles is supported.
ARK: https://n2t.net/ark:/88439/y034403
Permalink: https://geophysicsjournal.com/article/34
Article Details
Authors who publish with this journal as of Vol. 63 agree to the following terms:
a. Authors share the copyright with this journal in equal parts (50% to the journal, 50% to the lead author), and grant the journal right of first publication, with the work after publication simultaneously licensed under Creative Commons Attribution License CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
b. Authors may enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgment of its initial publication in this journal, and a reference to this copyright notice.
c. Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) during the submission process, as this can lead to productive exchanges and earlier and greater citation of published work and better sales of the copyright.
Author Self-archiving
Authors retain copyright and grant the Journal of Geophysics right of first publication, with the work three years after publication simultaneously licensed under the Creative Commons BY-NC-ND 4.0 License that allows others to share the work (with an acknowledgment of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal), except for commercial purposes and for creating derivatives.
Authors can enter into separate, additional, but non-commercial contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository, but not publish it in a book), with an acknowledgment of its initial publication in this journal.
Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) before and during the submission process, as that can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).
Additional Notes
This journal is one of a handful of scholarly journals that publish original scientific works under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 - the only Creative Commons license affording the authors' intellectual property absolute worldwide protection.
Journal of Geophysics is published under the scholar-publishers model, meaning authors do not surrender their copyright to us. Instead, and unlike corporate publishers like Elsevier or Springer Nature that resell copyright to third-parties for up to $80,000 (per paper, per transaction!), the Journal of Geophysics authors share copyright equally with this journal.
Therefore, all the proceeds from reselling copyright to third parties get shared to equal parts (50% to the journal, 50% to the lead author). Under the Berne Convention, this protection is an inheritable right that lasts for as long as the rightsholder lives + 50 years.
By submitting to this journal, the lead author, on behalf of all co-authors, grants permission to this journal to represent all co-authors in negotiating copyright sales and collecting proceeds. The lead author should negotiate with his/her co-authors the modalities of distributing the lead author's portion of the proceeds. Usually, this is per pre-agreed percentage of each co-author's contribution to creating the copyrighted work. (more...)
References
Briden, J.C.: Applicability of plate tectonics to pre-Mesozoic time. Nature 244, 400-405, 1973
Burke, K., Dewey, J.F., Kidd, W.S.F.: Precambrian palaeomagnetic results compatible with contemporary operation of the Wilson Cycle. Tectonophysics 33, 287-299, 1976
Carey, S.W .. The expanding earth. Amsterdam: Elsevier 1976
Cavanaugh, M.D., Seyfert, C.K.: Apparent polar wander paths and the joining of the Superior and Slave provinces during Proterozoic time. Geology 5, 207-211, 1977
Clifford, T.M.: Radiometric dating and the pre-Silurian geology of Africa. In: Radiometric dating for geologists, E.I. Hamilton and R.M. Farquhar, eds.: pp. 299-416. New York: Interscience 1968
Cox, A., Doell, A.R.: Palaeomagnetic evidence relevant to a change in the earth's radius. Nature 189, 45-47, 1961
Creer, K.M.: An expanding earth? Nature 205, 539-544, 1965
Creer, K.M., Irving, E., Runcorn, S.K.: Geophysical interpretation of palaeomagnetic directions from Greater Britain. Philos. Trans. R. Soc. London, Ser. A:250, 144-156, 1957
Embleton, B.J.J., Schmidt, P.W. ·Recognition of common Precambrian polar wandering: a conflict with plate tectonics. Nature 282, 705-707, 1979
Engel, A.E.J., Keirn, D.L.: Pre-Permian global tectonics: A tectonic test. Geol. Soc. Am. Bull. 83, 2325-2340, 1972
Fisher, R.A.: Dispersion on a sphere. Proc. R. Soc. London, Ser. A :217. 295-305, 1953
Glikson, A.Y.: Archaen to early Proterozoic shield elements: relevance of plate tectonics. Geol. Assoc. Can., Spec. Pap. 14, 489-516, 1976
Glikson, A.Y.: The missing Precambrian crust. Geology 7, 449-454, 1979
Graham, K.W.T., Hales, A.L.: Palaeomagnetic measurements on Karroo Dolerites. Philos. Mag. [Suppl., Adv. Phys.] 6, 149-161, 1957
Hargraves, R.B.: Precambrian geologic history. Science 193, 363-371, 1976
Hilten, D. Van: Global expansion and palaeomagnetic data. Tectonophysics 5, 191-210, 1968
Hurley, R.M., Rand, J.R.: Pre-drift continental nuclei. Science 164. 1229-1242, 1969
Irving, E. : Drift of the major continental blocks since the Devonian. Nature 270, 304-309, 1977
Irving, E.: Paleopoles and paleolatitudes of North America and speculations about displaced terrains. Can. J. Earth Sci. 16, 669-694, 1979
Irving, E., Green R.: Polar wandering relative to Australia. Geophys. J.R. Astron. Soc. 1, 64-72, 1958
Irving, E., McGlynn, J.C.: Proterozoic magnetostratigraphy and the tectonic evolution of the Laurentia. Philos. Trans. R. Soc. London, Ser. A: 280, 243-265, 1976
Irving, E., McGlynn, J.G.: Palaeomagnetism in the Coronation Geosyncline and arrangement of the continents in the middle Proterozoic. Geophys. J.R. Astron. Soc. 58, 309-336, 1979
Irving, E., Park, J.K.: Hairpins and superintervals. Can. J. Earth Sci. 9, 1318-1324, 1972
McElhinny, M.W., Embleton, B.J.J.: Precambrian and early Palaeozoic palaeomagnetism in Australia. Philos. Trans. R. Soc. London, Ser. A:280, 417-431, 1976
McElhinny, M.W., McWilliams, M.O.: Precambrian geodynamics ~ a palaeomagnetic view. Tectonophysics 40, 137-159, 1977
McElhinny, M.W., Taylor, S.R., Stevenson, D.J.: Limits to the expansion of Earth, Moon, Mars and Mercury and to changes in the gravitational constant. Nature 271, 316-321, 1978
Moor bath, S.: The oldest rocks and the growth of continents. Sci. Am. 236, 92-104, 1977
Morel, P., Irving, E.: Tentative palaeo-continental maps for the early Phanerozoic and Proterozoic. J. Geol. 86, 535-561, 1978
Piper, J.D.A.: Proterozoic crustal distribution, mobile belts, and apparent polar movements. Nature 251, 381-384, 1974
Piper, J.D.A.: Palaeomagnetic evidence for a Proterozoic supercontinent. Philos. Trans. R. Soc. London, Ser. A:280, 469-490, 1976
Piper, J.D.A., Briden, J.C., Lomax, K.: Precambrian Africa and South America as a single continent. Nature 245, 244-248, 1973
Piper, J.D.A., Stearn, J.E.F.: Palaeomagnetism of Ketilidian meta morphic rocks of S.W. Greenland, 1850-1600 m.y. apparent polar movements. Phys. Earth Planet. Inter. 13, 143-156, 1976
Roy, J.L., Lapointe, P.L.: The palaeomagnetism of Huronian red beds and Nipissing diabase; Post-Huronian Igneous Events and apparent polar path for the interval -2,300 to -1,500 Ma for Laurentia.
Can. J. Earth Sci. 13, 749-773, 1976
Roy, J.L., Morris, W.A., Lapointe, P.L., Irving, E., Park, J.K., Schmidt, P.W.: Apparent polar wander paths and the joining of the Superior and Slave provinces during early Proterozoic times: Comment. Geology 6, 132-133, 1978
Runcorn, S.K.: Palaeomagnetic comparisons between Europe and North America. Proc. Geol. Assoc. Can. 8, 77-85, 1956
Schmidt, P.W., Clark, D.A.; The response of palaeomagnetic data to Earth expansion. Geophys. J.R. Astron. Soc. 61, 95-100, 1980
Scotese, C.R., Bambach, R.K., Barton, C., Vander Voo, R., Ziegler, A.M.: Paleozoic base maps. J. Geol. 87, 217-277, 1979
Sears, J.W., Price, R.A.: The Siberian connection: a case for Precambrian separation of the North American and Siberian craton. Geology 6, 267-270, 1978
Shackleton, R.M.: Displacement within continents. In: Time and place in orogeny. Geol. Soc. London, Spec. Pub!. 3, 1-7, 1969
Smith, A. G., Briden, J.C., Drewry, G.E.: Phanerozoic world maps. In: Organisms and continents through time. Spec. Pap. Palaeontol. 12, 1-42, 1973
Smith, A. G., Hallam, A.: The fit of the southern continents. Nature 225, 139-144, 1970
Sutton, J., Watson, J.V.: Tectonic evolution of continents in early Proterozoic times. Nature 247, 433-435, 1974
Ward, M.A .. On detecting changes in the Earth's radius. Geophys. J.R. Astron. Soc. 8, 217-225, 1963
Ward, M.A.: Comments on detecting changes in the Earth's radius. Geophys. J.R. Astron. Soc. 10, 445-447, 1966