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What evidence shows that Rodinia began to break apart?
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paleogeography
Watch a time-lapse of Earth changing through geologic time, from the Cambrian Era to the projected period of Pangea Proxima.
In the field of paleogeography, evidence for the breakup of the supercontinent Rodinia is primarily identified through geologic indicators of crustal extension and mantle activity.12
Key evidence includes:
- Magmatic Activity: The intrusion of basaltic dikesādriven by rising magma plumesāoccurred in various locations starting about 1 billion years ago, signaling early rifting. Significant dike development is also observed in the Kalahari craton, dating to approximately 800 million years ago.1
- Continental Rifts: The presence of transcontinental rifts and extensive basalt deposits provides evidence of crustal thinning. A notable example is the Keweenawan Rift (Midcontinent Rift), which dates to 1.1 billion years ago.1
- Rift Sequences: By approximately 750 million years ago, the development of numerous continental-rift sequences across various landmasses confirms that the supercontinent had begun to disintegrate.2
Some geologists further suggest that the collision of the Congo craton with Rodinia around 800 million years ago acted as a catalyst, effectively splitting the supercontinent into two major fragments.1