Proterozoic Siberia: A promontory of Rodinia

The analysis of Siberian basement geology, Meso- to Neoproterozoic sedimentary successions and magmatism together with recent palaeomagnetic and geochronological data suggest that Siberia could be a promontory of Rodinia. Most of Siberia's margins faced an open ocean in the Meso- and Neoproterozoic. Passive margin sedimentary successions accumulated along the eastern, western, and possibly northern edges of the Siberian craton. The western Siberian passive margin evolved into an active margin in the early Neoproterozoic. The passive margin succession developed along the south-western edge of Siberia in the mid-Neoproterozoic, probably reflecting the drift of Siberia from Rodinia. An apparent absence of the traces of Mackenzie, Franklin, and Gunbarrel igneous events and of the Grenville-age orogeny in Siberia argues against a tight connection between Siberia and Laurentia. Palaeomagnetically permissive reconstructions require some “buffer” continent between Siberia and Laurentia in Rodinian times. This continent could include some Precambrian fragments of Arctic parts of Eurasia and North America.