Laurentia

Laurentia is the craton at the heart of North America. Many times in its past, Laurentia has been a separate continent as it is now in the form of North America. During other times in its past, Laurentia has been part of a supercontinent. It is named after the Laurentian Shield.

This is an outline of the history of Laurentia over about three billion years:

Partial (incomplete) history of Laurentia in chronological order

• ~2.5 billion years ago, Arctica formed as an independent continent.
• ~2.45 billion years ago, Arctica was part of the major supercontinent Kenorland.
• ~2.1 billion years ago, when Kenorland shattered, the Arctican craton was part of the minor supercontinent Nena along with Baltica and Eastern Antarctica .
• ~1.8 billion years ago, Laurentia was part of the major supercontinent Columbia.
• ~1.5 billion years ago, Laurentia was an independent continent.
• ~1.1 billion years ago, Laurentia was part of the major supercontinent Rodinia.
• ~750 million years ago, Laurentia was part of the minor supercontinent Protolaurasia . Laurentia nearly rifted apart.
• ~600 million years ago, Laurentia was part of the major supercontinent Pannotia.
• ~Cambrian, Laurentia was an independent continent.
• ~Devonian, Laurentia collided against Baltica, forming the minor supercontinent Euramerica.
• ~Permian, all major continents collide against each other for forming the major supercontinent Pangaea.
• ~Jurassic, Pangaea rifted into two minor supercontinents: Laurasia and Gondwana. Laurentia was part of the minor supercontinent Laurasia.
• ~Cretaceous, Laurentia was an independent continent called North America.
• ~Neogene, Laurentia, in the form of North America, crashed into South America, forming the minor supercontinent America.
• ~250 million years from now, all continents will crash together for forming the major supercontinent Pangaea Ultima. Laurentia will be of Pangaea Ultima.
• ~400 million years from now, Pangaea Ultima will disintegrate, and no one knows what will happen to Laurentia when it does.

External Links

• Paleogeography of the Southwestern US - Paleogeographic history of southwestern Laurentia, goes back to 1.7 billion years ago.
• Mesozoic Paleogeography and Tectonic History, Western North America - Paleogeographic history of western Laurentia, goes back to the Permian period.

Images

• Map of Laurentia - A map of Laurentia