Rio de la Plata Craton

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Location of Uruguay
Location of Uruguay

The Rio de la Plata Craton is the most ancient nucleus of the South American continent now dated[1] 1790±5 Ma[2]. It is located in Uruguay and it has a size of about 20,000 square kilometres, with dikes trending ENE dated[3] 1727±10 Ma[4]. The event is probably linked to a mantle plume head.

Geological chart of Uruguay, showing the Rio de la Plata Craton in central position (light brown).

[edit] References

  1. ^ Uranium-lead/baddeleyite ariometric age determination.
  2. ^ Halls, H.C., Campal, N., Davis, D.W., and Bossi, J., 2001, Magnetic studies and U-Pb geochronology of the Uruguayan dyke swarm, Rio de la Plata craton, Uruguay: Paleomagnetic and economic implications: Journal of South American Earth Sciences (in press).
  3. ^ Argon-argon dating.
  4. ^ Teixeira, W., Renne, P.R., Bossi, J., Campal, N., and D'Agrella Filho, M.S., 1999, 40Ar-39Ar and Rb-Sr geochronology of the Uruguayan dike swarm, Rio de la Plata Craton and implications for Proterozoic intraplate activity in Western Gondwana: Precambrian Research, v. 93, p. 153-180.


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