WESTERN GONDWANA, EASTERN GONDWANA AND THE PROTOTETHYS AT THE END OF THE PRECAMBRIAN - BEGINNING OF THE PALAEOZOIC

Abstract

The paper discusses the history of East Gondwana and its relationship with West Gondwana in the period preceding the collision, and with the Prototethys. The relationships between East and West Gondwana and the Prototethys are reconstructed for the period 1000 - 800 milion years ago, the end of the Riphean-Vendian, after the Cadomian tectogenesis, and after the Salairian tectogenesis. It is concluded that West and East Gondwana were quite far apart in the Late Riphean - Early Vendian. They were separated by the Mozambique Ocean, which is closely linked geodynamically with the Prototethys. The closure of both oceans was completed on the Salairian boundary which is when West and East Gondwana were joined.