A study of the distribution of ice sheets on Gondwana Supercontinent in Paleozoic

Abstract: In this study, the authors reconstructed the distribution of ice sheets on Gondwana Supercontinent in Paleozoic based on the methods of stratigraphic correlation and paleomagnetism. By studying the Paleozoic glacier deposits on the major plates of Gondwana, the authors have reached the conclusion that three major glacial events occurred on Gondwana Supercontinent in Paleozoic, which included (1) Late Ordovician-Early Silurian glacial event, (2) Late Devonian-Early Carboniferous glacial event, (3) the end of Late Carboniferous-Permian glacial event. The Late Ordovician-Early Silurian glacier event lasted a shorter period of time, and the glacier deposits were limitedly distributed on West Gondwana. Compared with the first glacier period, the ice sheets during the Late Devonian-Early Carboniferous glacier period were even smaller and mainly distributed in South America Plate, whereas the last glacial event lasted for the longest time and influenced the largest area, and the ice sheets were distributed on all the major plates which constituted Gondwana Supercontinent. Furthermore, the centers of ice sheets in the three glacial events were all close to the South Pole, but they were not completely coincident. It is thus held that the major factor affecting the distribution of ice sheets on Gondwana Supercontinent was the temperature. In addition, basin dynamics, topography, attributes of glacier and other specific factors could also affect the distribution of ice sheets. Combining the authors’ field work in Baoshan Block with achievements of other researchers, the authors have reached the conclusion that only the Late Carboniferous-Permian glacial event had an effect on China’s blocks, and mainly affected the blocks in Southwest China, including Baoshan Block, Tengchong Block, Lhasa Block and Qiangtang Block.