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Nd evidence for Proterozoic crustal development in the Belt–Purcell Supergroup

Nature volume 312, pages 53–56 (1984)Cite this article

Abstract

A knowledge of the chemical and isotopic characteristics of the continents as they existed in the past is essential to an understanding of their evolution1–7. Vestiges of these characteristics remain in the sedimentary record. For example, the character and crustal residence age4 of ancient continental crust has been deduced from the Sm–Nd isotopic patterns of clastic sediments that have survived to the present day4,6,8. We report here Sm–Nd isotopic measurements from the Belt–Purcell Supergroup of western North America which form the first detailed isotopic investigation of a major Proterozoic sedimentary succession. The Belt–Purcell has many features also seen in the detrital load of the world's major contemporary rivers, including exceptionally homogeneous 147Sm/144Nd and 143Nd/144Nd ratios and a small range of crustal residence ages. Mantle additions to the continental crust seem to have been relatively minor since the middle Proterozoic.

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Author notes

  1. C. D. Frost

    Present address: Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming, 82071, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Earth Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 3EQ, UK

    C. D. Frost & R. K. O'Nions

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  1. C. D. Frost
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  2. R. K. O'Nions
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Frost, C., O'Nions, R. Nd evidence for Proterozoic crustal development in the Belt–Purcell Supergroup. Nature 312, 53–56 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1038/312053a0

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