Answers to question for: Pangea, Gondwanaland and the supercontinent hypothesis.

What will be modification processes that create gaps or overlaps?

• variable character of crustal thinning:
  • locked zones of Courtillot and Vink.
  • diachronous rifting.
  • greater degree of extenion can produce overlaps.
• localized deposition, e.g. Niger delta.
• internal plate deformation (e.g. Benue trough).
• missing continental slivers.
• differing thermal and hotspot histories.

As described the super continent cycle is far reaching. What does it not explain, or what might be difficulties?

• Why does the cycle span stay the same when heat flow rates changed 2 fold over the life time the cycle is thought to have operated.
• Rifting dispersion in the case of the break-up of Gondwanaland was over some 200 Ma. This should complicate the simple cycles they see.
• How does the Himalayan-Alpine system fit into this model?
• How does the Caledonide orogeny fit?
• How does the suspect/exotic terrane paradigm fit into this?

Course materials for Plate Tectonics, GEOL 3700, University of Nebraska at Omaha. Instructor: H. D. Maher Jr., copyright. This material may be used for non-profit educational purposes with appropriate attribution of authorship. Otherwise please contact author.