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

source ↗

Idealized cross-section of Earth's lithosphere, including the relationship between cratons, shields and platforms (Abbreviations: cb=cratonic basin, LIP=large igneous province, MOR=mid-ocean ridge) source ↗

In geology, platform is a craton covered with sediments. It 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".¹ The post-Ordovician rocks of the South American Platform are examples of an orthoplatform.²

References

Nagornji, M.A.; Nikolaev, V.G. (2005). "The quasiplatform sediments of the East European Platform". Russian Journal of Earth Sciences. 7 (5): 1–12. Bibcode:2005RuJES...700171N. 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.

[Nago-1] Nagornji, M.A.; Nikolaev, V.G. (2005). "The quasiplatform sediments of the East European Platform". Russian Journal of Earth Sciences. 7 (5): 1–12. Bibcode:2005RuJES...700171N. doi:10.2205/2005ES000171.

[BrazilOrtho-2] 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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See also

References