The Neoproterozoic Drift History of Laurentia: a Critical Evaluation and new Palaeomagnetic Data from Northern and Eastern Greenland

Laurentia occupies a critical position in palaeogeographic models for the Neoproterozoic, forming the core of Rodinia Supercontinent. The breakup of Rodinia in the late Neoproterozic was marked by the dispersal of its various constituent continental fragments, concomitant with major episodes of glaciation. Most models agree that Laurentia straddled the equator at about 750Ma, during the early stages of Rodinia breakup, and was again in an equatorial position by the early Cambrian. Its palaeogeography between these times, however, has proven to be contentious with essentially two schools of thought: one which argues that Laurentia has drifted into high latitudes by c. 630Ma and then back to equatorial latitudes, and the other which argues that Laurentia essentially remained in low latitudes throughout. The choice of one or other model depends on the choice, interpretation, and age of the available poles. We present new palaeomagnetic data from the Neoproterozoic sucessions of northern and eastern Greenland that confirm that Laurentia drifted into high latitudes during the late Neoproterozoic. Detailed investigation of the uppermost Eleonore Bay Supergroup (Sturtian?), yields a stable magnetization at 23 sites, that passes fold and reversal tests, and indicates a low latitude for Laurentia at this time. The overlying Tillite Group contains two glacial horizons. These are characterized by generally unstable behaviour during demagnetization, however, specimens from six sites from the uppermost tillite yield a stable magnetization that passes fold and reversal tests and places this margin of Laurentia at a high palaeolatitude (~70°) during deposition &150; this result is being confirmed by analysis of a second suite of samples collected in 2007. Interestingly, this would suggest that late Neoproterozoic glaciations encompassed a broad range of latitudes, but means that required palaeogeography for an ice-albedo catastrophe did not exist. Finally, six sites from the uppermost Precambrian units yield a stable magnetization that passes a fold and reversal test and place this part of the Laurentian margin at a latitude of ~17° at this time. Collectively these data agree with models that have Laurentia moving into high latitudes in the latest Neoproterozoic. The required plate velocities, although high, are in the range for Phanerozoic continents.
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