The pre-orogenic detrital zircon record of the Peri-Gondwanan crust

Stephan T, Kroner U, Romer RL (2019)

Publication Status: Published

Publication Type: Journal article, Original article

Publication year: 2019

Journal

Geological Magazine Cambridge University Press (CUP)

Publisher: CAMBRIDGE UNIV PRESS

Book Volume: 156

Pages Range: 281-307

Journal Issue: 2

DOI: 10.1017/S0016756818000031

Abstract

We present a statistical approach to data mining and quantitatively evaluating detrital age spectra for sedimentary provenance analyses and palaeogeographic reconstructions. Multidimensional scaling coupled with density-based clustering allows the objective identification of provenance end-member populations and sedimentary mixing processes for a composite crust. We compiled 58 601 detrital zircon U-Pb ages from 770 Precambrian to Lower Palaeozoic shelf sedimentary rocks from 160 publications and applied statistical provenance analysis for the Peri-Gondwanan crust north of Africa and the adjacent areas. We have filtered the dataset to reduce the age spectra to the provenance signal, and compared the signal with age patterns of potential source regions. In terms of provenance, our results reveal three distinct areas, namely the Avalonian, West African and East African- Arabian zircon provinces. Except for the Rheic Ocean separating the Avalonian Zircon Province from Gondwana, the statistical analysis provides no evidence for the existence of additional oceanic lithosphere. This implies a vast and contiguous Peri-Gondwanan shelf south of the Rheic Ocean that is supplied by two contrasting super-fan systems, reflected in the zircon provinces of West Africa and East Africa-Arabia.

Authors with CRIS profile

Tobias Stephan

Involved external institutions

Technische Universität Bergakademie Freiberg DE Germany (DE) Helmholtz-Zentrum Potsdam Deutsches GeoForschungsZentrum - GFZ DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Stephan, T., Kroner, U., & Romer, R.L. (2019). The pre-orogenic detrital zircon record of the Peri-Gondwanan crust. Geological Magazine, 156(2), 281-307. https://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0016756818000031

MLA:

Stephan, Tobias, Uwe Kroner, and Rolf L. Romer. "The pre-orogenic detrital zircon record of the Peri-Gondwanan crust." Geological Magazine 156.2 (2019): 281-307.

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