The early Paleozoic evolution of the Argentine Precordillera as a Laurentian rifted, drifted, and collided terrane: A geodynamic model: Discussion and Reply

Abstract

In their interesting comparison of the early Paleozoic biostratigraphy of the Precordillera of northwest Argentina with that of the Laurentian craton, Astini et al. (1995) reached the same basic conclusion as did we and our colleagues (Dalla Salda et al., 1992a, 1992b; Dalziel et al., 1994). We all agree on the Appalachian affinities of the Precordilleran terrane and that the Ouachita embayment is the most likely point of origin. We also agree that the Precordillera docked against the Gondwana craton in mid-Ordovician time. This is in contrast to Torsvik et al. (1995), who suggested a Devonian transfer from Laurentia to South America, a timing incompatible with the Upper Ordovician glacial deposits of the Precordillera as well as with the timing of Famatinian orogenesis (Dalziel, 1993; Dalziel et al., 1994).