Global mapping and time-series analysis of orogens, cratons, and igneous zircon samples through time

Gaining a comprehensive grasp of global tectonic evolution over Earth’s history is a major challenge, mainly because the available data is fragmented and incomplete. This is due to quantifiable information being lost over time via ongoing processes such as erosion, subduction, recycling, overprinting, and exposure. In hopes of enhancing such understanding, the immediate goal is to identify as many preserved segments of the geological record as possible. Accordingly, we present global databases with the locations and ages of cratons, orogens, terranes, large igneous provinces, U-Pb-dated igneous zircon samples, and ophiolite samples. The new global databases also include details such as GPS coordinates of polygonal outlines for each craton, orogen, and terrane, along with the ages during which each was active. From these data, maps based on the current geography of the continents are constructed at 50-Myr intervals, spanning the timeframe from 3500 Ma to present. By identifying and quantifying these key geological components, more comprehensive studies might be possible in future investigations. Additionally, from these databases time-series are analyzed for the interval 4100-0 Ma via cross-correlation and spectral analyses. Correlograms show that five time-series are synchronously aligned (within ±5 Myr), with all periodograms showing statistically significant cycles of 270 ±7 Myr, which we propose is the best estimate of the periodic opening and closing of ocean basins during a Wilson Cycle. This study also compares results from two other large global databases to assess the reproducibility of the ~270 Myr periodicity.