c. 2.7 billion years ago Β· The early Earth
Formation of the Kenorland supercontinent
Through the accretion of Neoarchean cratons, Kenorland assembled as one of the earliest known supercontinents on Earth.
Kenorland is a hypothetical Neoarchean supercontinent that formed approximately 2.7 billion years ago through the accretion of ancient Neoarchean cratons. It comprised continental landmasses that would later become Laurentia (North America), Baltica (Scandinavia), Western Australia, and Kalaharia (South Africa). Its assembly marked a key phase in plate tectonics, showing modern-style subduction and mountain-building processes. The breakup of Kenorland around 2.4 to 2.1 billion years ago coincided with the Great Oxidation Event and the Huronian glaciation, suggesting a link between tectonic reorganization, weathering, and global climate changes.
Sources
- Kenorland β Encyclopaedia Britannica β Encyclopaedia Britannica
- Neoarchean supercontinent Kenorland β Gondwana Research