Platform (geology)

Geologic provinces of the world (USGS)

  Shield

  Platform

  Orogen

  Basin

  Large igneous province

  Extended crust
Oceanic crust:
  0–20 Ma

  20–65 Ma

  >65 Ma

In geology, a platform is a continental area covered by relatively flat or gently tilted, mainly sedimentary strata, which overlie a basement of consolidated igneous or metamorphic rocks of an earlier deformation. Platforms, shields and the basement rocks together constitute cratons.^[1] Platform sediments can be classified into the following groups: a "protoplatform" of metamorphosed sediments at the bottom, a "quasiplatform" of slightly deformed sediments, a "cataplatform", and an "orthoplatform" at the top. The Mesoproterozoic Jotnian sediments of the Baltic area are examples of a "quasiplatform".^[2] The post-Ordovician rocks of the South American Platform are examples of an orthoplatform.^[3]

References

^ Parker, Sybil P. (Ed.). 1997. McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Geology and Mineralogy. New York: McGraw-Hill.
^ Nagornji, M.A.; Nikolaev, V.G. (2005). "The quasiplatform sediments of the East European Platform". Russian Journal of Earth Sciences. 7 (5): 1–12. doi:10.2205/2005ES000171.
^ de Almeida, F. F. M.; et al. (1976). "The Upper Precambrian of South America". Boletim IG-USP. 7. Archived from the original on 2015-10-01. Retrieved 2015-09-29.

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[1] Parker, Sybil P. (Ed.). 1997. McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Geology and Mineralogy. New York: McGraw-Hill.

[Nago-2] Nagornji, M.A.; Nikolaev, V.G. (2005). "The quasiplatform sediments of the East European Platform". Russian Journal of Earth Sciences. 7 (5): 1–12. doi:10.2205/2005ES000171.

[BrazilOrtho-3] Almeida, F. F. M.; et al. (1976). "The Upper Precambrian of South America". Boletim IG-USP. 7. Archived from the original on 2015-10-01. Retrieved 2015-09-29.

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[2]

[3]

See also

References