Laurentia

From Academic Kids

Laurentia is the craton at the heart of North America. Many times in its past, Laurentia has been a separate continent as it is now in the form of North America. During other times in its past, Laurentia has been part of a supercontinent. It is named after the Laurentian Shield.

This is an outline of the history of Laurentia over about three billion years:

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Partial (incomplete) history of Laurentia in chronological order

~2.5 billion years ago, Arctica formed as an independent continent.
~2.45 billion years ago, Arctica was part of the major supercontinent Kenorland.
~2.1 billion years ago, when Kenorland shattered, the Arctican craton was part of the minor supercontinent Nena along with Baltica and Eastern Antarctica.
~1.8 billion years ago, Laurentia was part of the major supercontinent Columbia.
~1.5 billion years ago, Laurentia was an independent continent.
~1.1 billion years ago, Laurentia was part of the major supercontinent Rodinia.
~750 million years ago, Laurentia was part of the minor supercontinent Protolaurasia. Laurentia nearly rifted apart.
~600 million years ago, Laurentia was part of the major supercontinent Pannotia.
~Cambrian, Laurentia was an independent continent.
~Devonian, Laurentia collided against Baltica, forming the minor supercontinent Euramerica.
~Permian, all major continents collide against each other for forming the major supercontinent Pangaea.
~Jurassic, Pangaea rifted into two minor supercontinents: Laurasia and Gondwana. Laurentia was part of the minor supercontinent Laurasia.
~Cretaceous, Laurentia was an independent continent called North America.
~Neogene, Laurentia, in the form of North America, crashed into South America, forming the minor supercontinent America.
~250 million years from now, all continents will crash together for forming the major supercontinent Pangaea Ultima. Laurentia will be of Pangaea Ultima.
~400 million years from now, Pangaea Ultima will disintegrate, and no one knows what will happen to Laurentia when it does.

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External links

Paleogeography of the Southwestern US (http://jan.ucc.nau.edu/~rcb7/paleogeogwus.html) - Paleogeographic history of southwestern Laurentia, goes back to 1.7 billion years ago.
Mesozoic Paleogeography and Tectonic History, Western North America (http://jan.ucc.nau.edu/~rcb7/mz_paleogeog_wus.html) - Paleogeographic history of western Laurentia, goes back to the Permian period.

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