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NEOPROTEROZOIC TO EARLY PALAEOZOIC PALAEOGEOGRAPHIC, PALAEOCLIMATIC, PALAEOBIOLOGIC AND TECTONOMAGMATIC EVENTS WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF SW-GONDWANA

The Neoproterozoic-Early Palaeozoic saw the occurrence of some of the most significant events in Earth history, namely the breakup of the supercontinent Rodinia, the occurrence of the most severe glaciations on Earth, drastic changes in the chemistry of oceans and atmosphere, the advent and diversification of metazoans and skeletons (“Cambrian Explosion”) and a period of intense orogenesis (Pan African-Brasiliano orogeny). Intense debate is currently taking place around these issues. SW-Gondwana is a key region because of its complete and largely unmetamorphosed sedimentary record spanning most of the Neoproterozoic and Early Palaeozoic, as well as its rich glacial and fossil record of that period. Due to the great geological complexity and the wide extent of the terranes involved, many important issues have not been solved yet. The main objectives of the present project are:

Correlation of Neoproterozoic to Ordovician sedimentary successions and tectonomagmatic events within SW-Gondwana.
Establishing a valid Neoproterozoic to Cambrian bio- and chemostratigraphic scheme (including stratotypes) for the region
Reconstructing the palaeogeographic evolution and assembly of SW-Gondwana.
Study the causes of climatic changes of the Neoproterozoic-Early Palaeozoic and their relationship to changes in ocean chemistry (e.g. C, O, Sr, S-isotopes).
Study the preludes and factors controlling the Cambrian “explosion” of life.
Contribute towards understanding of the factors that determined the advent of the Vendobionta, Metazoa and skeletal organisms, as well as the Neoproterozoic evolution of oceanic plankton.
Reappraisal of the mineral-economic potential of the region considering the assembly of SW-Gondwana and related events.

Fourty-eight researchers from nine countries have agreed to participate in the five year long project. A series of five annual meetings and field workshops will provide the participants with a common basis for discussion. This will be combined with laboratory research (Geochronology, Geochemistry, Micropalaeontology, Clay Mineralogy, Palaeomagnetism) and active participation of post-graduate students to achieve the proposed objectives. The project may help to understand the pre- to post-collisional history of SW-Gondwana, its palaeoclimatic history, the causes of the “Cambrian Explosion”, and ultimately, contribute towards understanding of the interaction between geotectonics, climate and evolution. The results will provide the basis for more efficient mineral exploration in the region. Finally, societal aspects of the project include the transfer of information regarding mineral deposits, contribution towards understanding of long-term climatic changes, better understanding of karstic underground water-systems and training of participants from less developed countries (including post-graduate students).