Alto Paraguay craton

The Alto Paraguay craton is a significant geological feature of South America, representing a stable block of Precambrian crust. It is one of the five core cratons that form the ancient foundation of the continent. These cratons are composed of metamorphosed rocks, including plutonic, metavolcanic, and metasedimentary formations. The Alto Paraguay craton, along with others, was involved in major crustal deformation cycles during the Precambrian era, specifically the Trans-Amazonian cycle (2.2 to 1.8 billion years ago) and the Brazilian cycle (900 to 570 million years ago). During the Brazilian cycle, it is believed to have collided with the Amazonia craton, forming part of the supercontinent Gondwana. The suture zone between these two cratons is identifiable today along the Paraguay-Araguaia line.12