Reconstructing the ancient arrangement of the continents requires paleomagnetic paleoclimatic

Reconstructing the ancient arrangement of the continents requires

paleomagneticpaleoclimaticgeochronologictectonicsedimentologic biogeographic fossil data.

EARLY PALEOZOIC EVENTSPALEOGEOGRAPHY

Paleomagnetic data

EARLY PALEOZOIC EVENTSPALEOGEOGRAPHY

Paleomagnetic data

EARLY PALEOZOIC EVENTSPALEOGEOGRAPHY

Paleomagnetic data

EARLY PALEOZOIC EVENTSPALEOGEOGRAPHY

Paleomagnetic data

EARLY PALEOZOIC EVENTSPALEOGEOGRAPHY

Paleomagnetic data

EARLY PALEOZOIC EVENTSPALEOGEOGRAPHY

Paleomagnetic evidence provides information on the latitude at which the rocks formed.

The orientation of the continent can be determined from the direction to the paleomagnetic pole, as recorded by bits of iron in the rock.

Longitudes, however, cannot be determined (which accounts for some of the differences in the paleogeographic reconstructions).

Paleoclimatic data

EARLY PALEOZOIC EVENTSPALEOGEOGRAPHY

Using rock typespaleoclimate can be determined

Paleoclimatic data

EARLY PALEOZOIC EVENTSPALEOGEOGRAPHY

Paleoclimatic evidence comes from environmentally-sensitive sedimentary rock types:

Glacial deposits

Paleoclimatic data

EARLY PALEOZOIC EVENTSPALEOGEOGRAPHY

Paleoclimatic evidence comes from environmentally-sensitive sedimentary rock types:

Coal swamp deposits

Paleoclimatic data

EARLY PALEOZOIC EVENTSPALEOGEOGRAPHY

Paleoclimatic evidence comes from environmentally-sensitive sedimentary rock types:

Reef carbonates

Paleoclimatic data

EARLY PALEOZOIC EVENTSPALEOGEOGRAPHY

Paleoclimatic evidence comes from environmentally-sensitive sedimentary rock types:

Evaporites

Paleoclimatic data

EARLY PALEOZOIC EVENTSPALEOGEOGRAPHY

Paleoclimatic evidence comes from environmentally-sensitive sedimentary rock types:

Evaporites

Ice House vs. Hot House

EARLY PALEOZOIC EVENTSPALEOGEOGRAPHY

EARLY PALEOZOIC EVENTSLATE NEOPROTEROZOIC PALEOGEOGRAPHY

Laurentia Baltica Siberia

Gondwanaland

EARLY PALEOZOIC EVENTSLATE NEOPROTEROZOIC PALEOGEOGRAPHY

EARLY PALEOZOIC EVENTSLATE NEOPROTEROZOIC PALEOGEOGRAPHY

Late Proterozoic Glaciation (Ice House)

EARLY PALEOZOIC EVENTSCAMBRIAN PALEOGEOGRAPHY

Cambrian named after Cambria, latin for Wales named by Adam Sedgewick (1830’s)

EARLY PALEOZOIC EVENTSCAMBRIAN PALEOGEOGRAPHY

Continents have moved off poles

Glaciers have melted

Sea level rising

Epeiric seas begin to develop

EARLY PALEOZOIC EVENTSCAMBRIAN PALEOGEOGRAPHY

Global temperatures warm

Formation of Iapetus Ocean (proto-Atlantic)

Ouachita Trough begins to develop

Ouachita Trough

EARLY PALEOZOIC EVENTSCAMBRIAN PALEOGEOGRAPHY

Early Cambrian

EARLY PALEOZOIC EVENTSCAMBRIAN PALEOGEOGRAPHY

Early Cambrian

Shallow seas cover many continentsEvaporite rocks deposited near equator

EARLY PALEOZOIC EVENTSCAMBRIAN PALEOGEOGRAPHY

Development of a shallow epeiric or epicontinental sea

Continent situated on the equator, so waters most likely warm

Significant carbonate deposits accumulate

Deep water sediments (shales) are accumulating on margins