Geodynamic Reconstructions of the Australides—1: Palaeozoic

Abstract

A full global geodynamical reconstruction model has been developed at the University of Lausanne over the past 20 years, and is used herein to re-appraise the evolution of the Australides from 600 to 200 Ma. Geological information of geodynamical interest associated with constraints on tectonic plate driving forces allow us to propose a consistent scenario for the evolution of Australia–Antarctica–proto-Pacific system. According to our model, most geodynamic units (GDUs) of the Australides are exotic in origin, and many tectonic events of the Delamerian Cycle, Lachlan SuperCycle, and New England SuperCycle are regarded as occurring off-shore Gondwana.

Keywords

• Australia
• Antarctica
• Gondwana
• Gondwanides
• Australides
• Palaeozoic
• plate tectonics
• geodynamic reconstructions