Significance of major Proterozoic high grade linear belts in continental evolution

Abstract

Major Proterozoic high grade linear belts are broadly conformable and sub-parallel to Archaean trends. Some are marginal to Archaean cratons, others intracratonic. All belong to a major set extending across the middle to late Proterozoic supercontinent. They are broadly contemporaneous with hairpin bends of polar wander curves, and some controlled igneous activity. Some are intracontinental structures developed in Proterozoic times when the deeper levels of continental masses underwent internal movement without loss of general coherence.