Principal stages in evolution of Precambrian organic world: Communication 1. Archean and Early Proterozoic

Expounded in this work are the results of critical consideration of published and original data on biologic nature and appearance chronology of different groups of Archean and Lower Proterozoic (3.5–1.65 Ga) paleontological remains known from geological record. Conclusions are substantiated by morphological analysis of structurally preserved microfossils, their facies distribution, and by inferable genesis and principal evolutionary trends of Archean stromatolites. A special attention is paid to variations of organic and carbonate carbon isotope composition in sedimentary successions with paleontological remains and to recent information about discovered, most ancient biomarkers of large groups of organic world. As a result of this approach, a detailed model of Precambrian organic world evolution is suggested.     

Principal stages in geological evolution of Ukrainian shield

The first attempt at coordination of the newest geochronological findings with identifiable petrographic complexes within the Ukrainian Shield, here seen as products of geosynclinal evolution and of granitization (in the modern sense), suggests the following characteristic traits of the Precambrian evolution of the earth's crust: an arrest of the upper Archean geosynclinal cycle (the second one of the three) in its initial or early stages; a general non-inversion of geosyncline; a very high geothermal gradient and hence the cardinal role of granitization and the "universality" - involvement of practically all kinds of rocks - of the regional metamorphism. The Shield has behaved as a platfomal entity ever since the end of its last (lower Proterozoic) geosynclinal cycle. The author's historical analysis of the Shield, as distinct from the still current stratigraphic representations, is based among other things on the recognized independence of metamorphic facies from stratigraphic as well as structural boundaries, identifications of formations corresponding to definite stages and zones of the geosynclinal evolution, correlations of geochronological data with petrographic varieties of rocks and with their spatial distribution, examination of migmatites and granitoids from the viewpoints of ultrametamorphism and granitization, proofs of the function of deep fissuring in the character of sedimentation and intrusive activities, and plane analysis of folded structures. Metallogenic analysis of the Shield is facilitated by such identifications and correlations, inasmuch as migrations and accumulations of ore constituents and others were definitely associated with granitization activities. — V. P. Sokoloff     

The precambrian evolution of South America

Zusammenfassung Mit Hilfe von ca. 1500 radiometrischen Zeitmessungen wird eine Synthese der prÄkambrischen Entwicklung Südamerikas aufgestellt. In Abb. 1 wird versucht, die Lage der spÄtprÄkambrischen orogenen Gürtel sowie ihre Plattformen darzustellen.Der grö\te alte Kern des Kontinents umfa\t den Guyana-Schild, das Basement des Amazonas-Sedimentbeckens und den Guaporé-Kraton im Süden, einen Raum von ungefÄhr 4,5 Mio. qkm. Die meisten Gesteine wurden von dem transamazonischen orogenen Zyklus erfa\t, dessen radiometrisches Alter etwa 2000 M. J. betrÄgt. Der etwa gleichaltrige SÃo-Francisco-Kraton in Ostbrasilien umfa\t ungefÄhr 1 Mio. qkm. Kleinere Kerne, die ebenfalls die Ereignisse des transamazonischen Zyklus' widerspiegeln, wurden nahe der Atlantikküste, östlich der Mündung des Amazonasflusses (SÃo-Luis-Kraton-Gebiet) und in der Umgebung des La-Plata-Flusses (Rio de la Plata-Kraton-Gebiet) gefunden.Die Kratone sind getrennt durch metamorphe Gürtel, die zum brasilianischen orogenen Zyklus spÄtprÄkambrischen Alters gehören. Der Caririan-Gürtel und die Sergipe-Geosynklinale liegen in der Nordostecke von Brasilien, und der Ribeira-Gürtel erstreckt sich entlang der Atlantikküste im Süden. Zwei symmetrische geosynklinale Einheiten wurden im zentralen Teil des Kontinents erkannt: der Brasilia- und der Paraguay-Araguaia-Gürtel.In den brasilianischen orogenen Gürteln treten an vielen Stellen transamazonische oder sogar Ältere Serien auf, Anzeichen für aufgearbeitetes altes Basement. Dies scheint zu zeigen, da\ die Sialkruste des südamerikanischen Kontinents vor 2000 M. J. schon eine rÄumliche Ausdehnung von mehr als 10 Mio. qkm hatte.

---

A general synthesis of the precambrian evolution of South America has been made with the aid of about 1500 radiometric age determinations. In Fig. 1, the position of the late precambrian orogenic belts, as well as their platforms, is tentatively outlined.The largest ancient core of the continent includes the Guyana Shield, the basement of the Amazon sedimentary basin, and the Guaporé craton, to the south, covering an area of about 4.5 million square kilometers. Most of the rocks were affected by the Trans-Amazonian orogenic cycle, whose radiometric ages are close to 2000 m. y. The SÃo Francisco craton of similar age outcrops over an area of about one million square kilometers, in eastern Brazil. Smaller ancient nucleii, also reflecting the events of the Tranz-Amazonian cycle, were found near the Atlantic coast, east of the mouth of the Amazon river (SÃo Luis cratonic area), and surrounding the La Plata river (Rio de la Plata cratonic area).The old cratonic areas are separated from each other by metamorphic belts which belong to the Brazilian orogenic cycle of late precambrian age. The Caririan belt, and the Sergipe geosyncline, occur at the northeastern corner of Brazil, and the Ribeira belt along the Atlantic coast, to the south. Two symmetrical geosynclinal units were recognized in the central part of the continent: the Brasilia and the Paraguay-Araguaia belts.Within the areas of the Brazilian orogenic belts, in many places Trans-Amazonian or even older ages occur, indicating remobilized ancient basement. This seems to demonstrate that the sialic crust of the South American continent, 2000 m. y. ago, already exhibited an areal extent of more than 10 million square kilometers.

---

Résumé Une synthèse générale de l'évolution précambrienne de l'Amérique du Sud a été faite à l'aide de 1500 déterminations d'âge radiométrique. La fig. 1 présente un essai sur la répartition des zones orogéniques du Précambrien supérieur et de leurs platesformes.Le noyau ancien du continent, qui est le plus vaste, comprend le bouclier de la Guyane, le socle du bassin sédimentaire de l'Amazone et le Craton de Guaporé, au Sud, couvrant une aire d'environ 4,5 millions de Km². La plupart des roches ont été affectées par le cycle orogénique Trans-Amazonien dont l'âge radiométrique est d'environ 2000 millions. Le craton de SÃo Francisco d'âge semblable, affleure sur une étendue d'environ 1 million de Km², dans l'Est du Brésil. Des noyaux anciens plus petits, affectés également par le cycle Trans-Amazonien, ont été trouvés près de la cÔte Atlantique, à l'Est de l'embouchure de l'Amazone (région cratonique de SÃo Luis), et aux environs du fleuve la Plata (région cratonique du Rio de la Plata).Les régions cratoniques anciennes sont séparées les unes des autres par des zones métamorphiques appartenant au cycle orogénique brésilien, d'âge Précambrien supérieur. La zone caririenne et le géosynclinal de Sergipe affleurent dans l'extrémité NE du Brésil, et la zone de Ribeira, le long de la cÔte Atlantique au S. Deux unités géosynclinales symétriques ont été reconnues dans la partie centrale du continent: les zones de Brasilia et de Paraguay-Araguaia.Dans les régions occupées par les ceintures orogéniques Brésiliennes, il existe en beaucoup d'endroits des roches d'âge Trans-Amazonien et mÊme plus ancien, indices d'un socle ancien remobilisé. Ceci semble démontrer que la croûte sialique du continent Sud Américain montrait déjà, il y a environ 2000 millions d'années, une étendue de plus de 10 millions de Km².

---

1500 . . 1 , , . , Guaporé , . . 4,5 . , 2000 . Sao Francisco 1 . . , , , ( Sao Luis) la Plata ( (Rio de la Plata). , . Caririan Sergipe , Paraiba . : Brasilia Paraguay-Araguaia. , . , , , - , 10 . 2000 .

     

The geochemistry and evolution of early precambrian mantle

Seven high-purity cumulate clinopyroxenes from 2.7 b.y. maficultramafic rock associations from the Abitibi belt, Superior Province, Canada, have been analyzed for major elements and K, Rb, Cs, Ba, Sr and ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratio. Attempts to reconstruct the trace element patterns of the original parent magmas were partially successful; Sr contents (140 ppm), K/Rb (470) and K/Ba (16) ratios are similar to those of modern low-K island arc tholeiites. K/Cs ratios (2700) are significantly lower than island arc tholeiites (17,000) or oceanic island and oceanic ridge basalts (> 30,000); the presentday mantle seems to be more depleted in Cs than in Archean times. Initial Sr isotope ratios of the 7 Archean clinopyroxenes average 0.70114±13(2σ) with relatively little variation; this value is in good agreement with initial ratios published for felsic and mafic rocks of the same age, though the latter show much larger variations and uncertainties. The pyroxene Sr isotope data, in conjunction with data for rocks of other ages, defines the following simple model for mantle evolution:

1. starting with primordial Sr, a short period of relatively rapid ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr growth, followed by Rb depletion;
2. a period between ≧ 3.5 b.y. and ～ 1.7 b.y. when closed-system Sr isotope evolution occurred (with Rb/Sr ～ 0.023);
3. development of large-scale Rb/Sr heterogeneities in the mantle at ～ 1.7 b.y., leading to a present-day mantle with ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ranging from 0.7023 to 0.7065 and Rb/Sr ranging from ～ 0 to 0.065.

     

Paleoclimate changes in the late precambrian: Evidence from the upper precambrian section of the South Urals

The climatic impact on the formation of fine-grained rocks from the Riphean stratotype and Vendian Asha Group on the western slope of the South Urals during the time interval lasting approximately 1200 Ma is considered. It is shown that these rocks are largely represented by “tectonosilicate-dominated” shales. This feature combined with changes in the average K₂O/Al₂O₃ values disavows the hypothesis in (Kennedy et al., 2006), according to which the growth of free oxygen concentration in the Late Riphean and Vendian atmosphere was determined by gradual intensification of the organic carbon extraction from the biosphere by clays. The average values of the hydrolyzate module, chemical index of alteration (CIA), and several lithogeochemical parameters calculated for the Riphean and Vendian clayey rocks provide grounds for the conclusion that intensity of weathering in paleodrainage areas during the accumulation of the Upper Precambrian sedimentary successions was low. The curve reflecting changes of the average CIA values in the Upper Precambrian fine-grained siliciclastic rocks of the South Urals is similar to some extent with the “standard” CIA_correct. curve (GonzalezAlvarez and Kerrich, 2012). It is assumed that changes in microand macrobiotic communities during the Late Precambrian were controlled to a variable extent by climate fluctuations as well. At the same time, these fluctuations most likely left the chemical composition of water in the ocean virtually unchanged, which is evident from analysis of the redox conditions in the ocean and the distribution of primary producers with the average CIA_correct. and CIA values.     

Glacial conglomerates of late precambrian age from the Bunyoro Series,W. Uganda

The Bunyoro Series of W. Uganda is a sequence of sandstones and pelitic sediments of fairly low metamorphic grade resting unconformably on crystalline Precambrian basement rocks. Conglomerates and pebbly mudstones are found predominantly in the lower part of the sequence. The present paper describes the result of fieldwork carried out by the author, mainly in the Hoima and Masindi areas. The author supports the conclusion reached by earlier workers (Davies, 1939) that the conglomerates of the Bunyoro Series are of glacial origin and probably of Late Precambrian age. The conglomerates of the northern part of the Bunyoro District (Masindi) are strongly deformed and elongated, defining a very distinct pebble lineation dipping in a northerly direction. This lineation was most probably formed during isoclinal folding with tectonic movement from the North to the South, producing extensive inversions. This folding is most likely to have taken place in Late Precambrian or Early Palaeozoic times and may tentatively be correlated with the Katanga orogeny.

---

Zusammenfassung Die Bunyoro-Serie in West-Uganda besteht aus wenig metamorphen Sandsteinen und pelitischen Sedimenten, die diskordant auf dem kristallinen präkambrischen Grundgebirge ruhen. Konglomerate und geröllhaltige Ton- und Siltsteine dominieren in den tieferen Teilen der Serie. In dieser Abhandlung beschreibt der Verfasser die Resultate seiner Feldarbeit hauptsächlich aus den Gebieten Hoima und Masindi. Frühere Ergebnisse (Davies, 1939) werden gestützt insofern, als die Konglomerate der Bunyoro-Serie glazialen Ursprungs sind und wahrscheinlich spät-präkambrisches Alter haben. Die Konglomerate der nördlichen Teile des Bunyoro-Gebietes sind stark deformiert, und die Geröllachsen fallen in nördlichen Richtungen ein, Diese Liniation ist wahrscheinlich während einer isoklinalen Faltungsperiode mit tektonischer Bewegung von Norden gegen Süden entstanden. Die Faltung hat extensive Überkippungen hervorgerufen und hat wahrscheinlich in spätpräkambrischen oder frühen paläozoischen Zeiten stattgefunden. Sie kann versuchsweise mit der Katanga-Orogenese korreliert werden.

---

Résumé La Série du Bunyoro de l'Ouest de l'Ouganda consiste en grès et sédiments pélitiques peu métamorphiques reposant en discordance sur le socle cristallin Antécambrien (Précambrien). Des conglomérats et argiles à galets sont surtout localisés dans la partie inférieure de la série. Le présent article décrit les résultats du travail de terrain effectué par l'auteur, principalement dans les districts de Hoima et de Masindi. L'auteur confirme la conclusion à laquelle sont arrivés ses prédécesseurs (Davies, 1939), c.-à-d. que les conglomérats de la Série du Bunyoro ont une origine glaciaire effectué par l'auteur, principalement dans les districts de Hoima et de Masindi. conglomérats de la partie Nord du District du Bunyoro (Masindi) sont fortement déformés et étirés avec une linéation de galets très marquée, plongeant vers le Nord. Cette linéation s'est probablement développée lors d'un plissement isoclinal avec transport tectonique du Nord vers le Sud, ce qui a produit d'importantes inversions. Apparemment cette phase de plissement s'est produite vers la fin de la période infracambrienne ou bien au début de l'ère Paléozoïque, et l'on peut tenter de la mettre en liaison avec l'orogènese du Katanga.

---

Bunyoro , . . , . , . (Dayles, 1939) , Bunyoro , , . Bunyoro , . , , . , , , . .

     

华北元古界的沉积演变和成矿背景问题

元古代是一个重要成矿期。又是全球成矿背景发生根本性变化的时期。华北元古界中有丰富的矿产资源。它们的形成除受全球背景制约外,还受局部条件所影响。因此,呈现出区域成矿特殊性。全球性成矿背景发生转变的时期,在华北古陆主要表现在吕梁运动(1850Ma)前后。     

华南板块前寒武纪的构造演化史及成矿事件

华南板块由扬子板块和华夏褶皱系在四堡期碰撞形成,与罗迪尼亚大陆形成时间一致,碰撞形成了变质岩、岩浆岩及蛇绿岩等地质特征。华南板块形成之后的860~740Ma期间,经历了激烈的岩浆岩活动,其成因主要有三种解释:地幔说、俯冲说、陆内裂谷说,至今没有一个比较统一的认识。前寒武纪的岩浆活动使华南板块发生重要的成矿事件,在扬子板块周边形成了康滇地轴、九万大山-元宝、钦杭等成矿带。     

Detrital bornite grains in the late precambrian B graywacke of Mufulira,Zambia

Matrix-rich samples of the Mufulira B graywacke contain discrete grains of bornite of detrital origin, and bornite-bearing rock fragments of igneous, plutonic composition. This finding is consistent with previous reports of copper sulphide concentrations in sedimentary structures of arenites, and poses the question of the relative role of clastic sedimentation as an ore-forming process in the Zambian Copperbelt.     

The Ediacara member of the Rawnsley quartzite: The context of the Ediacara assemblage (late precambrian,flinders ranges)

The Ediacara fossil assemblage occurs widely in the Flinders Ranges, South Australia, in a single, readily mappable stratigraphic interval—the Ediacara Member of the Rawnsley Quartzite, which is part of the Pound Subgroup of the Wilpena Group. The Member occurs low in the Rawnsley Quartzite and consists of siltstones, medium‐ to thick‐bedded sandstones, and heterolithic units of intercalated siltstone and sandstone. Features such as rhythmical bedding and flaser bedding, interference and flat‐topped ripples, winnowed coarse sand residues, abundant clay galls, and rare desiccation cracks suggest that the heterolithic siltstone/sandstone units represent intertidal deposits. The rich body‐fossil assemblage occurs chiefly in these deposits of probable intertidal origin, and for the most part appears to represent organisms stranded by the tide away from their normal habitat. Associated bioturbation structures include horizontal, penetrative (post‐depositional) burrows, but vertical dwelling burrows have not been found; the Pound Subgroup evidently pre‐dates their widespread appearance.

The Rawnsley Quartzite appears to have been deposited during cycles of marine transgression, with the Ediacara Member inferred to have accumulated in environments varying from shallow shelf to tidally influenced lagoons sheltered by barrier bars.     

The Geochemical Evolution of the Proterozoic Continental Crust in Northwestern Jiangxi and Western Zhejiang,China

The pertochemistry and Sm-Nd isotopic compositions and the geochemical characteristics of REE,U,Th,etc..in the Late Proterozoix and Early Palaeozoic strata in northwestern Jiangxi and western Zhejiang provinces are described in this paper.It seems to be sure that the middle Proterozoic strata of southeastern China are low in the degree of matrration .The strata contain much mantle-derived material.At the end of Late Proterozoic there was an abrupt turn with respect to the crustal geochemical evolution of the eastern part of South China .Since then ,the geochemical environment has undergone a change from a simple reducing environment to a complex oxidizing-reducing environ-ment, which would be geochemically beneficial to the formation of Late Sinian to Early Cambrian U-bearing formations.     

Petrology of late proterozoic mafic dikes in the Nico Perez region,central Uruguay

Summary Tholeiitic basaltic and basaltic andesite dikes of Brasiliano (or PanAfrican) age ( 600 Ma) intrude the basement of the Nico Perez region, Uruguay. Major and trace element geochemistry of the basalts indicates that they suffered fractionation in shallow magma chambers. The variation in element ratios, which remain virtually unchanged during fractionation (K/Rb, Rb/Ba, Ba/Nb, La/Nb, Zr/Nb and Ti/Zr), indicate that the dikes are not strictly comagmatic. However, they have certain features in common: LILE and LREE enrichment with respect to HFSE and HREE; high Rb/Ba (> 0.9) and Rb/Sr (> 0.08); low K/Rb (< 214); negative Nb and Ti anomalies (La _n /Nb _n > 2; Ba/Nb > 22 Ti/Zr < 60).⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr and¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd at 665 Ma are in the range 0.7052 – 0.7119 and 0.51158 – 0.51177, respectively.The lack of correlations between isotope and trace element variations indicate that these characteristics are not controlled by crustal contamination of the melts. They are interpreted as being due to the melting of an enriched mantle (C1) under the influence of a fluid-rich component (C2) which stabilized a Nb-retaining titanate phase in the residuum. Although this process may be related to a subduction environment, it is also possible that it occurred in an ensialic region by the interaction of deep mantle fluids with the lithospheric continental mantle.The parent mantle underlying the early Proterozoic (1.8 Ga) Florida region had isotope and geochemical characteristics which could evolve to the values observed in the adjacent Nico Perez region. It is therefore proposed that mantle enrichment took place in the early Proterozoic and that this mantle melted under the influence of fluids in the late Proterozoic to derive the Nico Perez dikes.

---

Petrologie von spätproterozoischen, mafischen Gängen in der Nico Perez-Region, Zentral Uruguay

Zusammenfassung In das Grundgebirge der Nico Perez-Region, Uruguay, intrudierten tholeiitische und basaltandesitische Gange panafrikanischen (Brasiliano) Alters ( 600 Ma). Die Hauptund Spurenelementgeochemie der Basalte zeigt eine Fraktionierung in seichten Magmakammern an. Die Streuung jener Elementverhältnisse, die während der Fraktionierung scheinbar unverändert bleiben (K/Rb, Rb/Ba, Ba/Nb, La/Nb, Zr/Nb und Ti/Zr), weist darauf hin, daß die Gänge nicht streng komagmatisch sind. Sie haben aber dennoch bestimmte Merkmale gemeinsam: Anreicherung von LILE und LREE in Bezug auf HFSE and HREE; hohes Rb/Ba (> 0, 9) and Rb/Sr (> 0, 08); niedriges K/Rb (< 214); negative Anornalien bei Nb and Ti (La _n /Nb _n > 2; Ba/Nb > 22, Ti/Zr < 60). Bei 665 Ma liegen⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr und¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd im Bereich von 0, 7052 bis 0, 7119 beziehungsweise von 0,51158 bis 0,51177.Fehlende Korrelationen zwischen Isotopen- und Spurenelement-Streuungen zeigen, daß these Eigenschaften nicht durch Kontamination der Schmelzen mit Krustenmaterial kontrolliert werden. Sie werden mit der Aufschmelzung von angereichertem Mantel (C1) unter dem Einfluß einer Fluid-reichen Komponente (C2) erklärt. Diese Komponente stabilisierte eine Titanat-Phase im Residuum, die Nb zurückhielt. Obwohl dieser Prozeß einem Subduktions-Milieu zugeordnet werden kann, ist es auch möglich, daß er in einem intrakontinentalen Bereich durch Wechselwirkung von Fluiden aus dem tiefen Mantel mit dem kontinentalen Lithosphärenmantel stattfand.Der Ausgangsmantel, der die frühproterbzoische (1, 8 Ga) Florida-Region unterlagert, weist isotopische and geochemische Merkmale auf, aus denen sich die in der benachbarten Nico Perez-Region beobachteten Werte entwickelt haben könnten. Daher wird angenommen, daß die Anreicherung im Mantel im frühen Proterozoikum stattfand und daß dieser Mantel unter tern Einfluß von Fluiden im späten Proterozoikum Schmelzen bildete, von denen die Gange von Nico Perez abgeleitet werden können.

     

The late stages of evolution of the Kwandonkaya A-type granite complex,Nigeria, as deduced from mafic minerals

In the Kwandonkaya Complex, an A-type metaluminous to peraluminous granite complex in northern Nigeria, the presence of Fe²⁺-rich ferromagnesian phases (fayalite, hedenbergite and amphibole) at the initial and annite at final stages of crystallisation indicates relatively reduced melts throughout (⪯QFM). Annite and associated species in the biotite granites provide the best indication as to the nature of volatile loss, albitisation and greisen formation.From the mica chemistry, it is inferred that degassing was accompanied by preferential loss of Cl in the roof zones and margins of the plutonic rocks, with the resulting enrichment of F and inferred Li in mica from the drusy facies. During albitisation, the mica composition was rockbuffered with respect to major constituents like Fe. However, the F±(Li, REE, Y, Nb, Ta, Sn) contents were enhanced during albitisation to produce F-rich mica associated with disseminated-type typaz-columbite-cassiterite mineralisation. Greisen formation was accompanied by the buildup of Si, Al, Ti, F and possibly Li, which is in agreement with enhanced normative quartz and corundum, and increases in modal mica, quartz, topaz and fluorite. The mafic minerals and their alteration assemblages indicate that volatile loss, incipient subsolidus modifications, albitisation and greisen formation were associated with increases in f_HF and f_H2O). Both oxidation and preferential Cl loss promoted the deposition of cassiterite at post-magmatic stages.     

The dependence of animal evolution on geotectonic stages and the 2n model

Conclusions In terms of synergetics, animal evolution necessarily seems: to be dependent on the evolutional stages of the Earth, ie on the geotectonic stages and their phases. The detailed causes of and interrelations between the extinction of certain species: and the evolution of new superior types of organisms on the one hand and the phases of geotectonic stages on the other hand still remain to be examined. Undoubtedly this is a task for paleontologists whose attention should focus on additional non-traditional investigations. From a philosophical viewpoint it seems noteworthy that, in the field of geosciences, we again arrive at the significance of the role of numbers as suggested by classical philosophers, eg Pythagoras or Plato, more than 2,000 years ago. As a matter of fact, Plato, in his work called Thimaios, even derived the 2ⁿ and 3ⁿ models as basic models to be used for examinations of the Earth.     

New information on the probable isotopic age of the late proterozoic glaciation in west africa

New RbSr age determinations on smectitic clay fractions from a formation of the late Proterozoic glaciation in West Africa constrain the occurrence of that major event to between 630 and 595 Ma.     

The cheyenne belt: analysis of a proterozoic suture in Southern Wyoming

The Cheyenne belt of southeastern Wyoming is a major shear zone which separates Archean rocks of the Wyoming province to the north from 1800-1600 Ma old eugeoclinal gneisses to the south. Miogeoclinal rocks (2500-2000 Ma old) unconformably overlie Archean basement immediately north of the shear zone and were deposited under transgressive conditions along a rift-formed continental margin. Intrusive tholeiitic sills and dikes are interpreted as rift-related intrusions and a date of 2000 Ma on a felsic differentiate of these intrusions gives the approximate age of rifting. There are no known post-2000 Ma felsic intrusions north of the Cheyenne belt.Volcanogenic gneisses and abundant syntectonic calc-alkaline plutons of the southern terrane are interpreted as island are volcanic and plutonic rocks. The volcanics are a bimodal basalt-rhyolite assemblage. Plutons include large gabbroic complexes and quartz diorite (1780 Ma), syntectonic granitoids (1730-1630 Ma) and post-tectonic anorthosite and granite (1400 Ma). There is no evidence for Archean crust south of the Cheyenne belt.Structural data (thrusts in the miogeoclinal rocks, vertical stretching lineations, and the same fold geometries north and south of the shear zone) suggest that juxtaposition of the two terranes took place by thrusting of the southern terrane (island arc) over the northern terrane (craton and miogeocline), probably as a continuation of the south-dipping subduction which generated calc-alkaline plutons of the southern terrane. A metamorphic discontinuity across the shear zone, with greenschist facies rocks to the north and upper amphibolite facies rocks and migmatites to the south, also suggests thrusting of the southern terrane (deeper crustal levels) over the northern terrane (shallower levels).The Cheyenne belt may be a deeply-eroded master decollement, perhaps analogous to a ramp in the master decollement in the southern Appalachians. This interpretation of the Cheyenne belt as a Proterozoic suture zone provides an explanation for the geologic, geochronologic, geophysical, metallogenic, and metamorphic discontinuities across the shear zone.