The following is a list of known orogenies organised by continent, starting with the oldest in each. The headings are present-day continents, which may differ from the geography contemporary to the orogenies. Some orogenies encompass more than one continent and may have different names in each, and some very large orogenies include sub-orogenies. As with other geological phenomena, orogenies are often subject to revised interpretations of their age, type and associated paleogeography.
In some (especially older) literature, the term orogeny refers to a long episode of basin formation and deposition of sediments over hundreds of millions of years, ending with deformation (sometimes including metamorphism) of these deposits. However, some workers use the term only for the final mountain-building deformation event over tens of millions of years or shorter.Sengör, A.M.C. (1990); Plate tectonics and orogenic research after 25 years: A Tethyan perspective. Earth Sci. Reviews, 277, 1-201.van Dijk, J.P. (1992); Late Neogene fore-arc basin evolution in the Calabrian Arc (Central Mediterranean). Tectonic sequence stratigraphy and dynamic geohistory. With special reference to the geology of Central Calabria. Geologica Ultrajectina, 92, 288 pp. ISBN 90-71577-46-5; pp. 251-264
African orogenies , Neoproterozoic Era (550 Ma)
Antarctic orogenies Orogenies affecting Antarctica include: Tectonics of the Transantarctic Mountains: Geochronology – (4000±200 Ma) – ( Ma) , (c. 3000 Ma) – (2650±150 Ma) – (2000–1700 Ma) – (1000±150 Ma) – (633–620 Ma) – (c. 550 – c. 480 Ma)
Asian orogenies
Aravalli-Delhi Orogen – Precambrian Altaid Orogeny – Paleozoic Era during the Permian Period Cimmerian and Cathaysian orogenies Active through Triassic and Jurassic Periods along south and southeast Asia. Dabie-Sulu orogeny – Mesozoic Era Persia–Tibet–Burma orogeny – Cenozoic Era; caused by the continuing collision of the Arabian and Indian Plates with the Eurasian Plate, encompassing: Himalayan orogeny – Forming the Himalaya Mountains
European orogenies – Formation of an extensive area of tonalitic-trondhjemitic crust in Fennoscandia, (3.1–2.9 Ga) – Formation of two different types of terrain compatible with plate tectonic concepts. One is a belt of high-grade gneisses formed in a regime of strong mobility, while the other is a region of granitoid intrusions and greenstone belts surrounded by the remnants of a Saamian substratum, (2.9–2.6 Ga) , (2.0–1.75 Ga) – Formation of tonalitic-granodioritic plutonic rocks and calc-alkaline volcanites (like the previous Svecofennian orogeny), (1.75–1.5 Ga) – Essentially reworking of previously formed crust, (1.25 Ga – 900 Ma) – Affecting the northern Baltic Shield during the Neoproterozoic Era, (620–550 Ma) – On the north coast of Armorica in the Ediacaran/Cambrian, (660–540 Ma) – Deformation of the western Scandinavian Peninsula, Britain and Ireland, in the Ordovician Grampian phase and the Silurian Scandian phase – Deformation in western Iberia, southwest Ireland, southwest England, central and western France, southern Germany and Czech Republic, during the Devonian and Carboniferous Periods , during the Permian Period. , encompassing: The Formation of the Alps, during the Eocene through Miocene Periods – Building the Carpathian Mountains of eastern Europe, during the Jurassic-Cretaceous to Miocene Period – In Greece and the Aegean area, during Eocene through Miocene Periods
North American orogenies
– Superior province, South Dakota to Lake Huron, late Archean Eon (2700–2500 Ma) – Along western edge of Canadian Shield, (2100–1900 Ma) – Extends from Hudson Bay west into Saskatchewan then south through the western Dakotas and Nebraska. Result of the collision of the Superior craton with the Hearne craton and the Wyoming craton, during the Proterozoic Eon (2000–1800 Ma) – (1910–1770 Ma) – Collision at the southern margin of the North Atlantic Craton, late Paleoproterozoic Era (1850–1720 Ma) – Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, and southern Ontario, (1850–1840 Ma) – Proterozoic collision between the Hearne craton and the Wyoming craton in southwest Montana, (1770 Ma) – Mojave Desert region, southwestern U.S. , (1710–1700 Ma) – Mid to southwestern U.S., (1675–1650 Ma) – Mid to southwestern U.S., (1430–1300 Ma) – Worldwide, during the late Proterozoic Eon (1300–1000 Ma). Associated with the assembly of the supercontinent Rodinia. Formed folded mountains in eastern North America from Newfoundland to North Carolina, (1100–1000 Ma) , including: – From Cryogenian to Devonian Periods – In the northeastern U.S. and Canada, during the Ordovician Period – In the eastern U.S., during the Silurian and Devonian Periods – Usually seen as the same as the Variscan orogeny in Europe Appalachian Mountains are a well-studied orogenic belt resulting from a late Paleozoic collision between North America and Africa.
Ouachita Mountains of Arkansas and Oklahoma is an orogenic belt that dates from the late Paleozoic Era and is most likely a continuation of the Appalachian orogeny west across the Mississippi embayment – Reelfoot Rift zone. – Ancestral Sierra Nevada, western U.S., from late Devonian Period to early Mississippian age – Innuitian Mountains, Canadian Arctic, extending from Ellesmere Island to Melville Island, Mississippian age (345 Ma) – Rocky Mountains, western North America, (270–240 Ma) – Developed along western North America, during the Jurassic Period – Rocky Mountains, western North America, (140–50 Ma) – Rocky Mountains, western North America, (70-40 Ma) – Transverse Ranges, western North America, Pleistocene Period to present day
Oceania orogenies
Australian orogenies
– Gawler craton, South Australia, (2440–2420 Ma) – Glenburgh Terrane, Western Australia, ( Ma) – MacArthur Basin, northern Australia, (c. 1890–1850 Ma) – Gawler craton, South Australia, (c. 1845–1700 Ma) – Gawler craton, South Australia – Gawler craton, South Australia – North Yilgarn craton margin, Western Australia, (c. 1765 Ma) – Western Australia, (c. 1710–1020 Ma) – Gascoyne Complex, Western Australia, (c. 1680–1620 Ma) – Mount Isa Block, Queensland, (c. 1600 Ma) – Gawler craton, South Australia, (1570–1555 Ma) – Olary Block, South Australia – Gascoyne Complex, Western Australia – Musgrave Block, Central Australia, (c. 1080 Ma) – Gascoyne Complex, Western Australia, (c. 920–850 Ma) – Central Australia, late Neoproterozoic Era to Cambrian Period (c. 630–520 Ma) – South Australia and Victoria, Ordovician Period, (c. 514–510 Ma) – Victoria and New South Wales, (c. 540 and 440 Ma) – Northern continuation of the Lachlan Orogeny – Central Australia, early Carboniferous Period, (450–300 Ma) – Victoria and New South Wales, Carboniferous Period (c. 318 Ma) – Queensland and New South Wales, Permian Period to Triassic Period (c. 260–225 Ma) Sprigg Orogeny – continuing uplift of the Flinders and Mt Lofty Ranges in South Australia (Miocene – present)Sandiford, M.: Neotectonics of southeastern Australia: linking the Quaternary faulting record with seismicity and in situ stress In Hillis, R. R. & Müller, R. D. (Editors) 2003. Evolution and Dynamics of the Australian Plate, pp 2, 107-120. Geological Society of Australia Special Publication 22 and Geological Society of America Special Paper 372.
New Zealand orogenies , (370–330 Ma) , (142–99 Ma) , (24 Ma – present)
South American orogenies – PaleoproterozoicAlkmima, Fernando F. and Stephen Marshak; Transamazonian Orogeny in the Southern São Francisco Craton Region, Minas Gerais, Brazil: evidence for Paleoproterozoic collision and collapse in the Quadrilátero Ferrífero, Precambrian Research, Volume 90, Issues 1–2, 30 June 1998, Pages 29–58 Guriense orogeny
– Brasilia Belt – Paraguai Belt
– Sierra de la Ventana , Chilean Coast Range, (300–330 Ma)The Geology of Chile Teresa Moreno, Wes Gibbons, Geological Society of London , Andes Mountains, (200 Ma – present)
Table
Orogeny Estimated start time(Ga) Estimated end time(Ga) Continent Pan-African orogeny.55.55Africa Damara orogeny.53.5Africa Kibaran orogeny1.41Africa Eburnean orogeny2.22Africa East African Orogeny.75.55Africa Mauritanide Orogeny.32.27Africa Mozambique Orogeny2.652.97Africa Zambezi Orogeny.89.53Africa Napier orogeny4Antarctica Rayner orogeny3.5Antarctica Humboldt orogeny3Antarctica Insel orogeny2.65Antarctica Early Ruker orogeny21.7Antarctica Late Ruker orogeny1Antarctica Beardmore orogeny.62Antarctica Ross orogeny.55.48Antarctica Borchgrevink orogeny.42.35Antarctica Aravalli-Delhi Orogen2.3Asia Altaid Orogeny.54Asia Cimmerian orogeny.22Asia Dabie-Sulu orogeny.24Asia Persia–Tibet–Burma orogeny.55Asia Himalayan orogeny.29.16Asia Saamian orogeny3.12.9Europe Lopian orogeny2.92.6Europe Svecofennian orogeny2.01.75Europe Gothian orogeny1.751.5Europe Sveconorwegian orogeny1.14.96Europe Timanide orogeny.62.55Europe Cadomian orogeny.66.54Europe Caledonian orogeny.49.39Europe Variscan orogeny.44.35Europe Uralian orogeny.32.25Europe Alpine orogeny.15.25Europe Mediterranean Ridge.15Europe Algoman orogeny2.72.5North America Wopmay orogeny2.11.9North America Trans-Hudson orogeny11.8North America Nagssugtoqidian orogeny1.91.8North America Ketilidian orogeny1.851.72North America Penokean orogeny1.851.84North America Great Falls orogeny1.77North America Ivanpah orogeny1.711.70North America Yavapai orogeny1.711.70North America Mazatzal orogeny1.671.65North America Picuris orogeny1.431.30North America Grenville orogeny1.25.98North America Caledonian orogeny East Greenland Orogen.72.42North America Appalachian orogeny.48North America Taconic orogeny.44North America Acadian orogeny.37North America Alleghanian orogeny.35North America Ouachita orogeny.29North America Antler orogeny.35.32North America Innuitian orogeny.45North America Sonoma orogeny.27.24North America Nevadan orogeny.2North America Sevier orogeny.14.05North America Laramide orogeny.07.04North America Pasadena orogeny.03North America Sleaford orogeny2.442.42Oceania Glenburgh orogeny21.92Oceania Barramundi orogeny1.891.85Oceania Kimban orogeny1.841.70Oceania Cornian orogeny21.86Oceania Miltalie orogeny1.95Oceania Yapungku orogeny1.76Oceania Albany-Fraser orogeny1.711.02Oceania Mangaroon orogeny1.681.62Oceania Isan orogeny1.60Oceania Kararan orogeny1.571.55Oceania Olarian orogeny1.45Oceania Capricorn orogeny1.3Oceania Musgrave orogeny1.221.12Oceania Edmundian orogeny1.681.46Oceania Petermann orogeny.55.53Oceania Delamerian Orogeny.51Oceania Lachlan Orogeny.54.44Oceania Thomson Orogeny.51.49Oceania Alice Springs Orogeny.45.30Oceania Kanimblan Orogeny.32Oceania Hunter-Bowen orogeny.26.22Oceania Tuhua Orogeny.37.33Oceania Rangitata Orogeny.14.09Oceania Kaikoura Orogeny.03Oceania Transamazonian orogeny2.141.94South America Guriense orogeny2.82.7South America Sunsás orogeny1.41.1South America Cariri Velhos orogeny.54South America Brasiliano-Pan African orogeny.54South America Pampean orogeny.53.48South America Chonide orogeny.25.20South America Terra Australis Orogen.54.23South America Famatinian orogeny.49.46South America San Rafael orogeny.29.25South America Toco orogeny.33.30South America Andean orogeny.200South America
References