Author Question: What tectonic event caused the Taconic and Acadian orogenies? What will be an ideal ... (Read 59 times)

Evvie72 · **on:** Jul 15, 2018

What tectonic event caused the Taconic and Acadian orogenies? What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

Briefly explain the difference between the tectonic setting of shield areas during the Precambrian and
since the onset of the Phanerozoic. What will be an ideal response?

mochi09 · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 15, 2018

Answer to Question 1

The closing of the Iapetus Ocean began with an oceanic-continental convergent plate boundary during
the Taconic orogeny and culminated with a continental-continental convergent plate boundary during
the Acadian orogeny as Laurentia and Baltica became sutured.

Answer to Question 2

During the Precambrian, the areas that are now part of the shield were tectonically active with
volcanism, metamorphism, and folding and faulting. During that time, continents grew by accretion.
Since the beginning of the Phanerozoic, these areas have been tectonically inactive and have been
eroded to topographically flat, stable areas.