Sutton Hotspot: Resolving Ediacaran-Cambrian Tectonics and True Polar Wander for Laurentia

Ross N. Mitchell*, Taylor M. Kilian, Timothy D. Raub, David A. D. Evans, Wouter Bleeker, Adam C. Maloof

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    Abstract

    Hotspot tracks represent plate motions relative to mantle sources, and paleomagnetic data from magmatic units along those tracks can quantify motions of those mantle anomalies relative to the Earth's magnetic field and rotational axis. The Ediacaran Period is notable for rapid and large paleomagnetic apparent polar wander (APW) for many continents. Whereas magmatic units attributed to the "Sutton" mantle plume suggest a practically stationary hotspot track, paleolatitudes of Laurentia for that interval vary dramatically; geologic and paleomagnetic data are at odds unless true polar wander (TPW) is invoked to explain a majority of APW. Here we test the plume-TPW hypothesis by generating the predicted Sutton hotspot track for a stationary plume under a moving plate along the Laurentian margin during the interval from 615 to 530 Ma. Our model is the first to provide a kinematic framework for the extensive large igneous province associated with opening the Iapetus Ocean.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)651-663
    Number of pages13
    JournalAmerican Journal of Science
    Volume311
    Issue number8
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Oct 2011

    Keywords

    • PLATE MOTIONS
    • Laurentia
    • Ediacaran
    • QUEBEC APPALACHIANS
    • LIVED MANTLE PLUME
    • SKINNER COVE VOLCANICS
    • WESTERN NEWFOUNDLAND
    • plate tectonics
    • U-PB ZIRCON
    • true polar wander (TPW)
    • apparent polar wander (APW)
    • LAYERED MAFIC INTRUSION
    • LARGE IGNEOUS PROVINCE
    • NORTH-AMERICA
    • hotspot
    • SOUTHERN APPALACHIANS

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