Linking South China to North India from the late Tonian to Ediacaran: Constraints from the Cathaysia Block

Abstract

Neoproterozoic paleogeography of the Cathaysia Block of South China is directly linked to the formation of Rodinia, its break-up, and the subsequent amalgamation of Gondwana. Two diamictite units occur in the Neoproterozoic sedimentary successions on the western margin of Cathaysia Block. In combination with our detrital zircon U-Pb dating results and corrected chemical weathering index data (CIAcorr), these units coincide with the global Sturtian and Marinoan glaciations. Late Tonian to early Ediacaran sedimentary rocks from western Cathaysia contain abundant late Mesoproterozoic to early Neoproterozoic (1150–870 Ma) and some mid-Neoproterozoic (800–720) detrital zircons. Paleocurrent data indicate sediment transport to the northwest. The timing and character of the ages of detrital zircons match the records of North India and East Antarctica, indicating that the Cathaysia Block received detritus from Gondwana. Thus, South China lay adjacent to northern Gondwana since at least 720 Ma, and possibly considerably earlier.