超级克拉通盆地发育的构造背景及其形成模式探讨

克拉通盆地是所有盆地类型中最稳定、最长寿的盆地,也是地壳和地幔长期垂向变形最重要的地质记录。地史上面积最大的克拉通盆地(超级克拉通盆地)原型面积常超过200×10^4 km^2,对探讨克拉通盆地成因演化具有重要的代表性意义。目前世界各地的研究可以识别出10余个不同时期的超级克拉通盆地。本文根据超级克拉通盆地基底性质、盆地发育的超大陆构造演化背景及其构造特征,将超级克拉通盆地划分为A型盆地和B型盆地两种类型,它们分别以西西伯利亚盆地和刚果盆地为代表。A型盆地形成于超大陆裂解之前至初始裂解的背景下,基底为前期造山带,为短波长盆地。盆地形态不规则性强,内部均一性相对较低,克拉通盆地边缘可能渐变为弧后盆地或前陆盆地。B型盆地形成于超大陆裂解末期(即下一个超大陆汇聚之初),基底为古克拉通陆块,为长波长盆地,盆地多呈对称的宽缓碟型。A型盆地处于短期活动的热地幔柱之上,伴随早期裂谷作用及其随后的热衰减成盆;B型盆地常处于热点和地貌高地之间的部位,盆地沉降长期受地幔持续缓慢下沉控制。     

华北东部早白垩世A型花岗岩与克拉通破坏

A型花岗岩是非造山的、无水的碱性花岗岩, 具有独特的矿物学、岩石学和地球化学特征, 形成于造山后、板内非造山或者地幔热柱等伸展动力学背景, 蕴涵着大陆地壳生长、岩石圈演化及区域构造发展等大陆动力学的重要信息.在华北东部广泛分布着一期中生代A型花岗岩及伴生的碱性岩, 结合前人的研究成果以及笔者近年来的研究发现: 它们主要侵位于早白垩世(130~110Ma), 来源于上地壳、下地壳和地幔等多元源区, 是不同成分的岩浆经过分离结晶、岩浆混合作用形成; 综合区域地球动力学研究和A型花岗岩本身的地球化学特征, 认为华北东部早白垩世A型花岗岩形成于地壳伸展背景之下, 是岩石圈减薄和克拉通破坏的浅部地质响应, 标志着华北东部岩石圈减薄和克拉通破坏作用的峰期.      

塔里木克拉通古元古代晚期A型花岗岩成因及对哥伦比亚超大陆演化的指示意义

塔里木克拉通保存有古元古代晚期与哥伦比亚超大陆演化相关的岩浆和构造记录。本文综述了塔里木克拉通周缘的古元古代晚期A型花岗岩,识别出两期(1.95Ga和1.85～1.73Ga)具不同地球化学特征的A型花岗岩。两期花岗岩均来源于具英云闪长岩和花岗闪长岩成分特征的地壳的部分熔融。～1.95Ga花岗岩具有相对较高的SiO_2和Sr含量、Y/Nb和Ce/Nb比值、较低的ε_(Hf)(t)值(-13～-5.2),为A2型花岗岩,形成于活动大陆边缘或弧后伸展等构造环境;而1.85～1.73Ga花岗岩具有相对较低的SiO_2和Sr含量、Y/Nb和Ce/Nb比值、和较高的ε_(Hf)(t)(-5.9～+8.7)和ε_(Nd)(t)(-6.2～-2.5)值,为A2向A1过渡类型,形成于碰撞后伸展或者陆内伸展裂解背景。笔者综述还发现塔里木克拉通内部存在两期不同的元古代晚期岩浆和变质年龄也可以明显的分为两期,岩浆岩峰值分别为1.93Ga和1.85Ga,变质年龄峰值为1.96Ga和1.84Ga,说明塔里木克拉通内部存在两期不同的晚古元古代构造-岩浆事件。这两期构造-岩浆事件对应于俯冲型造山和碰撞造山后伸展环境,可能分别记录了哥伦比亚超大陆聚合和裂解过程,也就是说哥伦比亚超大陆可能在1.85Ga左右已经开始部分裂解。     

华北克拉通中元古代岩浆事件群

中元古代(1 800～1 000 Ma)时期,华北克拉通发育多期与哥伦比亚超大陆裂解有关的岩浆事件群。本文结合区域地质特征、地球化学特点、沉积演化序列,讨论了各期裂解事件群的性质及特点,论述了华北克拉通中元古代时期岩浆事件群的大地构造意义。华北克拉通中元古代时期岩浆事件群具有幕式裂解的特点,约1.80～1.77 Ga岩浆事件群标志着华北克拉通的初始裂解,在这之后三大裂陷槽逐步打开,1.72～1.67 Ga,1.63～1.62 Ga岩浆事件群则是华北克拉通在中元古代早期持续裂解的具体体现,他们代表了哥伦比亚超大陆早期裂解的岩浆事件记录,而1.33～1.30 Ga期间以及1.23～1.20 Ga的岩浆事件则可能代表了哥伦比亚超大陆的晚期裂解事件。这些具有全球构造对比意义的岩浆事件群及高于庄组宏观化石生物群、中元古代时期氧化事件的出现,对一些学者提出的18亿～8亿年间"地球表面持续低氧"、"地球枯燥的10亿年"的认识增添了活力。     

新元古时期中国古大陆与罗迪尼亚超大陆的关系

在概略介绍罗迪尼亚和冈瓦纳超大陆最新研究成果的基础上 ,重点介绍了中国华北、塔里木和扬子等三个克拉通前新元古代大陆地壳演化的主要特征 ,以及塔里木和扬子克拉通新元古代重大热构造事件序列和年代格架。提出塔里木和扬子克拉通新元古代地质历史具有较大的相似性 ,而与华北克拉通有明显差异。华北克拉通未出现与罗迪尼亚超大陆汇聚和裂解作用有关的、强烈的新元古代热构造事件群。根据现有的古地磁和地质资料 ,探讨了中国大陆块体与罗迪尼亚超大陆的关系和空间位置     

华北克拉通对前寒武纪超大陆旋回的基本制约

全球大陆克拉通在前寒武纪至少记录了3次超大陆聚合－裂解的构造旋回。不同大陆前寒武纪地质的研究证明，板块的构造模式可以前推至新太古代。超大陆的聚合表现为大规模造山带的穿时性发育，而裂解则表现为大陆裂谷系、非造山花岗岩及巨型基性岩浆岩省的同期快速发育。广泛的区域地质研究揭示华北克拉通前寒武纪地质构造演化具有明显的阶段性差异特征，克拉通主体形成于新太古代陆壳增生与碰撞造山过程。华北克拉通在太古宙末期首次经历强烈的裂解作用，在古元古代晚期涉及强烈的陆缘再造作用。在古元古代末期发生第二次大规模的裂解活动，随后以中元古代末期的造山带拼合为Rodinia超大陆的组成部分。详细的区域构造对比证明，华北克拉通长期以来与波罗的地质、东南极克拉通、印度南部克拉通、巴西克拉通等具有构造亲缘关系。     

从中亚正εNd值花岗岩看超大陆演化和大陆地壳生长的关系

超大陆演化着重研究超大陆的聚合和裂解、离散,大陆地壳生长着重探索大陆地壳的生长和消亡.长期以来,人们都是如此将两者割裂开来研究的.本文从中亚造山带显生宙花岗岩同劳亚大陆的关系出发,进一步探讨超大陆演化、大陆地壳生长和地幔中俯冲板片雪崩事件(slab avalanche events)三者之间的关系,强调在超大陆形成时伴随大陆地壳急剧生长,在超大陆裂解、离散时大陆地壳的生长和消亡大体上保持平衡.无论超大陆演化或是大陆地壳生长都同地幔对流形式的变化有着密切的联系.     

中国克拉通盆地演化与碳酸盐岩—蒸发岩层序油气系统

中国克拉通盆地,如塔里木、鄂尔多斯和四川盆地,下伏有裂谷或坳拉谷,说明克拉通盆地随超大陆裂解而发育,其后,克拉通盆地随超大陆拼合而上叠前陆盆地。前期热沉降环境诱发良好烃源岩形成;中期发育完整碳酸盐—蒸发岩旋回,构成有利储层;晚期挤压环境形成盖层和上叠层,形成旋回式油气系统。在古隆起上碳酸盐台地构成有利的储集带,而发育在斜坡和半深海盆地中的浊流沉积提供有效烃源岩,形成相变式油气系统。碳酸盐岩储集层结构类型由3种主要因素所控制:沉积作用、海平面升降作用与构造作用,由此形成孔隙、溶洞和裂缝3种基本原型。可进一步构成:孔隙—溶洞型;溶洞—裂缝型和裂缝—孔隙型。     

克拉通盆地的成因

构造沉降曲线表明,伊利诺斯、密执安和威利斯顿(Williston)盆地都由裂谷作用过程中初始断裂控制的机械沉降和随后的热沉降而形成。伊利诺斯盆地的热沉降约开始于525Ma,密执安盆地约520~460Ma,威利斯顿盆地约530~500Ma。在伊利诺斯盆地,与阿勒格尼—海西造山运动对应的前陆挠曲沉降造成了该盆地的第二个沉降幕(中密西西比世至早二叠世)。由于年代明确的二叠纪黄长煌斑岩的侵入,推断伊利诺斯盆地在二叠纪有过再生的裂谷作用,这些侵入岩通常与裂谷作用有关。这些克拉通盆地的形成过程仍有争议。过去的研究者提出,地壳底部的地幔相变、火成侵入后(地壳)均衡的非补偿剩余质量的机械沉降、地幔羽侵入地壳或区域热变质事件是盆地产生的原因。北美、欧洲、非洲和南美的克拉通盆地具有相同的形成时代(约550~500Ma)、沉积物堆积史、沉积充填体积随时间的变化以及区际不整合的时代也是相同的。它们相同的形成时代说明克拉通盆地的产生与晚前寒武纪超级大陆的解体相对应。在与超级大陆解体相应的伸展构造作用期间,该超级大陆象热透镜一样使下地壳和上地幔发生部分熔融并继之以非造山花岗岩的侵位。非造山花岗岩及其它部分熔融侵入岩的侵入使大陆岩石圈变弱。这样就造成了一个局部的区域伸展带,并使这些非造山花岗岩     

北京密云环斑花岗岩锆石U-Pb年龄和Hf同位素及其地质意义

密云岩体位于华北克拉通东部,由环斑花岗岩和斑状黑云母花岗岩组成,是典型 A 型环斑花岗岩岩体之一。锆石的 LA-ICPMS U-Pb 年代学研究表明,密云环斑花岗岩形成于1681±10Ma 和1679±10Ma,而围岩片麻岩的原岩形成于2521±14Ma。锆石的 LA-MC-ICPMS Hf 同位素研究表明,太古代片麻岩来源于亏损地幔物质的部分熔融,从而表明2.5 Ca 是华北克拉通地壳重要的生长期;环斑花岗岩中锆石 Hf 同位素组成为δ_(Hf)(t)=～-5,两阶段模式年龄为 T_(DM2)=2.6～2.8Ga,表明它们来源于太古代新生地壳的部分熔融,密云环斑花岗岩侵位于华北克拉通大陆裂解、伸展环境,可能与全球古元古代未期Columbia 超大陆的裂解有关。     

On two types of supercontinental cyclicity

Analysis of tectonic events during the last 3 Ga of the Earth’s evolution, when 400 Ma global supercontinent cyclicities dominated, identified two types of supercontinental cycles. These types differ by the degree of breakup of a supercontinent that starts a cycle. Supercontinental cycles of the first type are characterized by a scattered and relatively even global distribution of the supercontinent split into numerous continents and oceans. Supercontinental cycles of the second type are characterized by uneven “incomplete” supercontinental breakups, which are localized alternately in either the Northern or the Southern Hemisphere, whereas a significant part remains after the breakup. These supercontinental cycle types followed each other composing pairs of megacycles that were 800 Ma long until ca. 700 Ma. Every megacycle consisted of two supercontinental cycles of different types; however, after the breakup of Rodinia, virtually only the second type of supercontinental cycle has been observed. The different degrees of the breakup of supercontinents, which are reflected in the two supercontinental-cycle types, may be caused by uneven heating of the mantle produced by supercontinents owing to the thermal blanket effect.     

中国中新元古代重要沉积地质事件及其意义

地球曾经历了3次超大陆演化过程,其中2次超大陆(哥伦比亚(Columbia)和罗迪尼亚(Rodinia))旋回涉及中新元古代,并与一系列区域性事件相联系,形成了多成因的超大陆演化模型。华北中东部新元古代沉积事件、扬子和塔里木新元古代裂谷事件、雪球事件等都被视为Rodinia超大陆的裂解响应,它们对定时三大陆块相互关系及定位其在全球超大陆的位置具有至关重要的作用,也反映了重要沉积地质事件在超大陆研究中不可或缺的作用和意义。此外,在中新元古代的Columbia和Rodinia超大陆演化过程中,还伴随发育具有广泛区域性甚至全球意义的巨厚白云岩与碳酸盐岩微生物(岩)、红层与黑色页岩、全球性臼齿亮晶碳酸盐岩和埃迪卡拉纪盖帽碳酸盐岩等沉积事件群及元素(同位素)漂移等地球化学异常事件,也包括特殊且重要的磷块岩、锰、铁矿等沉积成矿事件。由于不断显示出来在全球古大陆重建和古地理恢复方面的重要作用,它们越来越得到学术界的广泛关注和研究。文中通过系统分析中国中新元古代超大陆旋回演化中发育的部分重要或关键地质事件(群)时空发育与分布特征,并结合作者团队的实际资料和测试数据,以期揭示超大陆演化过程与重要沉积地质事件的内在联系,为超大陆聚散旋回演化和时空定位及原型沉积盆地的发育和评价提供科学证据。     

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674987113001576

The observation is made that there are very strong similarities between the supercontinents Columbia, Rodinia and Pangea. If plate tectonics was operating over the past 2.5 billion years of Earth history, and dominated by extroversion and introversion of ocean basins, it would be unusual for three superconti-nents to resemble one another so closely. The term＇strange attractor＇ is applied to landmasses that form a coherent geometry in all three supercontinents. Baltica, Laurentia and Siberia form a group of＇strange attractors＇ as do the elements of East Gondwana （India, Australia, Antarctica, Madagascar）. The elements of ＂West Gondwana＂ are positioned as a slightly looser amalgam of cratonic blocks in all three super-continents and are referred to as ＇spiritual interlopers＇. Relatively few landmasses （the South China, North China, Kalahari and perhaps Tarim cratons） are positioned in distinct locations within each of the three supercontinents and these are referred to as＇lonely wanderers＇. 〈br〉 There may be several explanations for why these supercontinents show such remarkable similarities. One possibility is that modern-style plate tectonics did not begin until the late Neoproterozoic and horizontal motions were restricted and a vertical style of ＇lid tectonics＇ dominated. If motions were limited for most of the Proterozoic, it would explain the remarkable similarities seen in the Columbia and Rodinia supercontinents, but would still require the strange attractors to rift, drift and return to approximately the same geometry within Pangea. 〈br〉 A second possibility is that our views of older supercontinents are shaped by well-known connections documented for the most recent supercontinent, Pangea. It is intriguing that three of the four ＇lonely wanderers＇ （Tarim, North China, South China） did not unite until just before, or slightly after the breakup of Pangea. The fourth＇lonely wanderer＇, the Kalahari （and core Kaapvaal） craton has a somewhat unique Archean-age geology compared to its nearest neighbors in Gondwana, but very similar to that in western Australia.     

P-T-t reconstructions of South Yenisei Ridge metamorphic history (Siberian craton): Petrological consequences and application to the supercontinental cycles

Studies of gneisses from the Yenisei regional shear zone (YRSZ) provide the first evidence for Mesoproterozoic tectonic events in the geologic history of the South Yenisei Ridge and allowed the recognition of several stages of deformation and metamorphism spanning from Late Paleoproterozoic to Vendian. The first stage (~ 1.73 Ga), corresponding to the period of granulite-amphibolite metamorphism at P = 5.9 kbar and T = 635 °C, marks the final amalgamation of the Siberian craton to the Paleo-Mesoproterozoic Nuna supercontinent. During the second stage, corresponding to a hypothesized breakup of Nuna as a result of crustal extension, these rocks underwent Mesoproterozoic dynamic metamorphism (P = 7.4 kbar and T = 660 °C) with three peaks at 1.54, 1.38, and 1.25 Ga and the formation of high-pressure blastomylonite rocks in shear zones. Late-stage deformations during the Mesoproterozoic tectonic activity in the region, related to the Grenville-age collision processes and assembly of Rodinia, took place at 1.17-1.03 Ga. The latest pulse of dynamic metamorphism (615–600 Ma) marks the final stage of the Neoproterozoic evolution of the Yenisei Ridge, which is associated with the accretion of island-arc terranes to the western margin of the Siberian craton. The overall duration of identified tectonothermal processes within the South Yenisei Ridge during the Riphean (~ 650 Ma) is correlated with the duration of geodynamic cycles in the supercontinent evolution. A similar succession and style of tectonothermal events in the history of both the southern and the northern parts of the Yenisei Ridge suggest that they evolved synchronously within a single structure over a prolonged time span (1385–600 Ma). New data on coeavl events identified on the western margin of the Siberian craton contradict the hypothesis of a mantle activity lull (from 1.75 to 0.7 Ga) on the southwestern margins of the Siberian craton during the Precambrian. The synchronous sequence and similar style of tectonic events on the periphery of the large Precambrian Laurentia, Baltica, and Siberia cratons suggest their spatial proximity over a prolonged time span (1550–600 Ma). The above conclusion is consistent with the results of modern paleomagnetic reconstructions suggesting that these cratons represented the cores of Nuna and Rodinia within the above time interval.     

Breakup of a Paleoproterozoic Supercontinent

If a Paleoproterozoic supercontinent broke up between 1.6 and 1.5 Ga, the distribution of sutures shows that the breakup was not complete. At least two large cratons, Atlantica (Amazonia, Congo, West Africa and probably North Africa and Rio de la Plata) and Arctica (Laurentia, Siberia, Baltica, North Australia and North China), survived the breakup and later become part of Rodinia.     

华北克拉通的变质沉积岩及其克拉通的构造划分

早前寒武纪花岗质岩年龄统计结果显示,华北克拉通经历了3.8,3.3,2.9,2.5和1.8~1.9 Ga等多个旋回才从陆核成长为陆台,与之对应沉积岩也由少变多,大约以500 Ma为一周期。由于沉积作用出现在成陆间歇期,所以二者在时间上相间互补,其状如同显生宙超大陆裂解和拼合的周期交替。这一现象不但是地壳演化的普遍规律,而且也可反过来用沉积岩反映陆壳的演化。然而,早前寒武纪尤其是太古宙的沉积岩毕竟太少,无法用来恢复当时古陆块的面貌,但古元古代的特别是陆缘沉积的孔兹岩,尽管已进入下地壳并成为克拉通基底的组成,则以保存甚多、分布延续,使其重塑克拉通的拼合成为可能。已有的华北克拉通的构造划分方案多种多样,但以陆缘沉积的古元古代孔兹岩作为地块的边界,理当最能反映当时古陆块的面貌。因此,以孔兹岩为主要依据,并综合考虑岩石组合、构造环境、变质p-T轨迹、同位素年龄、以及不变质的沉积盖层等地质特征,将华北克拉通主体从西往东划分为：鄂尔多斯地块 / 晋蒙弧形拼合带 / 冀鲁豫地块 /（郯庐断裂）/ 胶辽地块群等构造单元,所得到的不同于以往的构造轮廓,显示华北陆台并非一统的太古宙克拉通,而是吕梁运动拼合成的古元古代大陆。     

The Bastar craton,central India: A window to Archean – Paleoproterozoic crustal evolution

The Bastar craton in central India, surrounded by cratonic blocks and Paleoproterozoic to Neoproterozoic orogenic belts, is a window to investigate the Archean-Paleoproterozoic crustal evolution and tectonic processes. Here we propose a new tectonic classification of the craton into the Western Bastar Craton (WBC), Eastern Bastar Craton (EBC), and the intervening Central Bastar Orogen (CBO). We present petrologic, geochemical and zircon U-Pb, REE and Lu-Hf data from a suite of rocks from the CBO and along the eastern margin of the WBC Including: (1) volcanic successions comprising meta-andesite and fine-grained amphibolite, representing arc-related volcanics along a convergent margin; (2) ferruginous sandstone, in association with rhyolite, representing a volcano-sedimentary succession, deposited in an active trench; and (3) metamorphosed mafic-ultramafic suite including gabbro, pyroxenite and dunite invaded by trondhjemite representing the section of sub-arc mantle and arc root adjacent to a long-lasting subduction system. Petrologic studies indicate that the mafic-ultramafic suite crystallized from an island arc tholeiitic parental magma in a suprasubduction zone environment. The chondrite-normalized and primitive mantle normalized diagrams of the mafic and ultramafic rocks suggest derivation from MORB magma. The mixed characters from N-MORB to E-MORB of the studied samples are consistent with subduction modification of a MORB related magma, involving partial melting of the metasomatized mantle wedge. Our zircon U-Pb age data suggest that the cratonic nuclei was constructed as early as Paleoarchean. We present evidence for active subduction and arc magmatism through Mesoarchean to Neoarchean and early Paleoproterozoic, with the trench remaining open until at least 2.3 Ga. Two major crust building events are recognized in the Bastar craton: during Mesoarchean (recycled Paleoarchean subduction-related as well as juvenile/depleted mantle components) and Neoarchean (accretion of juvenile oceanic crust, arc magmatism including granite batholiths and related porphyry mineralization). The final cratonization occurred during latest Paleoproterozoic, followed by collisional assembly of the craton and its incorporation within the Peninsular Indian mosaic during Mesoproterozoic. In the global supercontinent context, the craton preserves the history of Ur, the earliest supercontinent, followed by the Paleo-Mesoproterozoic Columbia, as well as minor thermal imprints of the Neoproterozoic Rodinia and associated Grenvillian orogeny.     

The Paleoproterozoic North Hebei Orogen: North China craton's collisional suture with the Columbia supercontinent

Understanding the geologic history and position of the North China craton in the Paleoproterozoic Columbia supercontinent has proven elusive. Paleoproterozoic orogenic episodes (2.00–1.85 Ga) are temporally associated with ultimate stabilization of the North China craton (NCC), followed by the development of extensive craton-wide rift systems at 1.85–1.80 Ga. The age difference between the sedimentary cover and the metamorphic basement is up to 500–700 Ma, suggesting that uplift and doming of cratonic basement occurred in the latest Paleoproterozoic. Mafic dike swarms (1.80–1.77 Ga) and anorogenic magmatism (1.80–1.70 Ga) record the extensional breakup and dispersal of the North China craton during this stage. The late Paleoproterozoic tectonic framework and geological events documented provide important constraints for reconstruction of the NCC within the Late Paleoproterozoic supercontinent of Columbia.An east-west striking thousand kilometer long belt of khondalites (granulite facies metapelites) stretches along the northern margin of the North China craton, on the cratonward side of the Northern Hebei orogenic belt. This granulite belt includes Mg–Al (sapphirine bearing) granulites that reached ultrahigh-temperature “peak” metamorphic conditions of  1000 °C at 10 kbars at 1927 ± 11 Ma. Following peak ultrahigh-temperature conditions, the rocks underwent initial isobaric cooling and subsequent isothermal decompression, and these trajectories are interpreted to be part of an overall anti-clockwise P-T evolution indicating that the northern margin of the craton experienced continental collision at 1.93–1.92 Ga. The position of the khondalite belt south of the Northern Hebei orogenic belt makes it analogous to Tibet, a continental collision-related plateau characterized by double crustal thicknesses and granulite facies metamorphism at depth. We suggest that the tectonic evolution of the NCC during this period was closely related to the assembly and break-up of the Columbia supercontinent, and that the NCC was adjacent to the Baltic and Amazonian cratons in the period 2.00–1.70 Ga. Craton-wide extension occurred within 100–150 Ma of collision along the northern margin of the craton at 1.93–1.92 Ga. It is concluded that mantle upwellings are chiefly responsible for the breakup of the NCC from the Paleoproterozoic supercontinent.     

Role of tonalite-trodhjemite-granite (TTG) crust subduction on the mechanism of supercontinent breakup

The tonalite-trondhjemite-granite (TTG) crust has been considered to be buoyant and hence impossible to be subducted into the deep mantle. However, recent studies on the juvenile arc in the western Pacific region indicate that immature island arcs subduct into the deep mantle in most cases, except in the case of parallel arc collision. Moreover, sediment trapped subduction and tectonic erosion are also common. This has important implications in evaluating the role of TTG crust in the deep mantle and probably on the bottom of the mantle. Because the TTG crust is enriched in K, U and Th, ca. 20 times more than that of CI chondrite, the accumulated TTG on the Core Mantle Boundary (CMB) would have played a critical role to initiate plumes or superplumes radiating from the thermal boundary layer, particularly after 2.0 Ga, related to the origin of superplume-supercontinent cycle. This is because selective subduction of oceanic lithosphere including sediment-trapped subduction, tectonic erosion and arc- and microcontinent-subduction proceeded under the supercontinent before the final amalgamation ca. 200-300 million years after the formation of the nuclei. We speculate the mechanism of superplume evolution through the subduction of TTG-crust and propose that this process might have played a dominant role in supercontinent breakup.