Vaalbara, Earth’s oldest assembled continent? A combined structural, geochronological, and palaeomagnetic test

1998/09/01 by Zegers, de Mh Martin Wit, Dann +1 · 1 citation
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Earth and Planetary Sciences · #Archean #Cenozoic #Craton #Crust #Geological and Geochemical Analysis #Geology #Geomagnetism and Paleomagnetism Studies #Paleontology #Phanerozoic #Precambrian #Structural basin #Supercontinent #Tectonics #earthquake and tectonic studies

paper · doi:10.1046/j.1365-3121.1998.00199.x

openalex publication_date 1998/09/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/29

Abstract

The only remaining areas of pristine 3.6–2.7 Ga crust on Earth are parts of the Kaapvaal and Pilbara cratons. General similarities of their rock records, especially of the overlying late Archean sequences, suggest that they were once part of a larger Vaalbara supercontinent. Here we show that the present geochronological, structural and palaeomagnetic data support such a Vaalbara model at least as far back as 3.1 Ga, and possibly further back to 3.6 Ga. Vaalbara fragmented prior to 2.1 Ga, and possibly as early as 2.7 Ga, suggesting supercontinent stability of at least 400 Myr, consistent with Neoproterozoic and Phanerozoic analogues.

Citations

• The role of mantle plumes in continental breakup: case histories from Gondwanaland
• Sequence stratigraphy and plate tectonic significance of the Transvaal succession of southern Africa and its equivalent in Western Australia
• The Supercontinent Cycle

Cited by

• Vaalbara [wikipedia]