The Hypothetical Mesoproterozoic Supercontinent Columbia: Implications of the Siberian-West Laurentian Connection

The Siberian-West Laurentian connection is a postulated reconstruction of a Proterozoic craton that formed between 1800 Ma and 1500 Ma. Correlation of geological trends and of rift facies between the Siberian platform and western Laurentia indicates that, although the two cratons underwent significant intracontinental rifting in Mesoproterozoic and Neoproterozoic times, they did not undergo complete separation until early Cambrian, ca. 530 Ma. Although this interpretation does not support the hypothetical Columbia supercontinent model of Rogers (2000) and Rogers and Santosh (2002), some elements of it are compatible with that model.