Laurentia
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Laurentia was an independent continent approximately 500 million years ago. It is considered the precursor to the present-day North American continent and includes Greenland and a significant portion of North America. During the Silurian Period, Laurentia was rotated clockwise and situated between 30° N and 30° S latitude relative to the paleoequator. At this time, over 65 percent of Laurentia was submerged under shallow seas.12
Laurentia was part of the larger supercontinent Rodinia, which existed between 1.2 billion and 750 million years ago. Evidence suggests that Laurentia was at the center of Rodinia, though its exact placement and orientation are still debated among geologists. Later, after Rodinia broke apart, Laurentia became part of Laurasia, a Northern Hemisphere continental mass that also included Europe and Asia.34
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Paleozoic EraPaleozoic geographyLaurentia, a craton primarily made up of present-day North America and Greenland, was rotated 90° clockwise from its present orientation and sat astride the paleoequator during Cambrian times. Laurentia was separated from Gondwana by the Iapetus Ocean. The smaller Baltica craton was positioned within the…
Read MoreLaurentia, a craton primarily made up of present-day North America and Greenland, was rotated 90° clockwise from its present orientation and sat astride the paleoequator during Cambrian times. Laurentia was separated from Gondwana by the Iapetus Ocean. The smaller Baltica craton was positioned within the…
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Cambrian PeriodPaleogeography…province surrounded the continent of Laurentia. Paleomagnetic evidence indicates that Laurentia was located over the paleoequator during most or all of Cambrian time. This geographic interpretation is supported by the presence of thick, warm-water carbonate-platform deposits that accumulated in a broad belt encircling the continent. These carbonates are commonly flanked…
Read More…province surrounded the continent of Laurentia. Paleomagnetic evidence indicates that Laurentia was located over the paleoequator during most or all of Cambrian time. This geographic interpretation is supported by the presence of thick, warm-water carbonate-platform deposits that accumulated in a broad belt encircling the continent. These carbonates are commonly flanked…
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Ordovician PeriodPaleogeography…portion of a continent) of Laurentia—made up of most of present-day North America, Greenland, and part of Scotland—straddled the Equator and was rotated approximately 45° clockwise from its present orientation. The craton made up of Siberian and Kazakhstania (which is also called Siberia-Kazakhstan) lay east of Laurentia, along and slightly…
Read More…portion of a continent) of Laurentia—made up of most of present-day North America, Greenland, and part of Scotland—straddled the Equator and was rotated approximately 45° clockwise from its present orientation. The craton made up of Siberian and Kazakhstania (which is also called Siberia-Kazakhstan) lay east of Laurentia, along and slightly…
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Silurian PeriodLaurentiaMuch of North America (including Greenland), northwestern Ireland, Scotland, and the Chukotskiy Peninsula of northeastern Russia belonged to the paleocontinent Laurentia (a name derived from Quebec’s portion of the Canadian Shield). With respect to the present-day Great Lakes and Hudson Bay, Laurentia was rotated…
Read MoreMuch of North America (including Greenland), northwestern Ireland, Scotland, and the Chukotskiy Peninsula of northeastern Russia belonged to the paleocontinent Laurentia (a name derived from Quebec’s portion of the Canadian Shield). With respect to the present-day Great Lakes and Hudson Bay, Laurentia was rotated…
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