Geology. The Rodinia jigsaw puzzle.

Abstract

As a result of plate tectonics, the continents on Earth9s surface periodically come together to form supercontinents. Much is known about the most recent supercontinent, Pangaea, which reached its maximum extent about 250 million years ago. But an earlier supercontinent, Rodinia, remains shrouded in mystery. In his Perspective, Torsvik explains how recent data have altered models of the supercontinent9s assembly and breakup. He concludes that without better geologic and paleomagnetic data, reconstructions of Rodinia will remain mired in controversy.