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Ediacaran 2,500-km-long synchronous deep continental subduction in the West Gondwana Orogen

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  • Carlos E. Ganade de Araujo

    (Geological Survey of Brazil, Avenida Pasteur 404
    Instituto de Geociências, Universidade de São Paulo, Rua do Lago, 562)

  • Daniela Rubatto

    (Research School of Earth Sciences, Australian National University, Mills Road)

  • Joerg Hermann

    (Research School of Earth Sciences, Australian National University, Mills Road)

  • Umberto G. Cordani

    (Instituto de Geociências, Universidade de São Paulo, Rua do Lago, 562)

  • Renaud Caby

    (Géosciences Montpellier, Université de Montpellier II, Place E. Bataillon 34095)

  • Miguel A. S. Basei

    (Instituto de Geociências, Universidade de São Paulo, Rua do Lago, 562)

Abstract

The deeply eroded West Gondwana Orogen is a major continental collision zone that exposes numerous occurrences of deeply subducted rocks, such as eclogites. The position of these eclogites marks the suture zone between colliding cratons, and the age of metamorphism constrains the transition from subduction-dominated tectonics to continental collision and mountain building. Here we investigate the metamorphic conditions and age of high-pressure and ultrahigh-pressure eclogites from Mali, Togo and NE-Brazil and demonstrate that continental subduction occurred within 20 million years over at least a 2,500-km-long section of the orogen during the Ediacaran. We consider this to be the earliest evidence of large-scale deep-continental subduction and consequent appearance of Himalayan-scale mountains in the geological record. The rise and subsequent erosion of such mountains in the Late Ediacaran is perfectly timed to deliver sediments and nutrients that are thought to have been necessary for the subsequent evolution of sustainable life on Earth.

Suggested Citation

  • Carlos E. Ganade de Araujo & Daniela Rubatto & Joerg Hermann & Umberto G. Cordani & Renaud Caby & Miguel A. S. Basei, 2014. "Ediacaran 2,500-km-long synchronous deep continental subduction in the West Gondwana Orogen," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 5(1), pages 1-8, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:5:y:2014:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms6198
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms6198
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