Temporal variation in rigidity and mechanical behaviour of old thick continental lithosphere

Research Article| March 01, 2002 Temporal variation in rigidity and mechanical behaviour of old thick continental lithosphere C. Moctar Doucouré; C. Moctar Doucouré CIGCES-Centre for Interactive Graphical Computing of Earth Systems, Department of Geological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, 7701 South Africa now at de Beers African Exploration, P.O. Box 7383, Centurion 0046, South Africa Corresponding author - Email: maarten@cigces.uct.ac.za Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Maarten J. de Wit Maarten J. de Wit CIGCES-Centre for Interactive Graphical Computing of Earth Systems, Department of Geological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, 7701 South Africa Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar South African Journal of Geology (2002) 105 (1): 39–50. https://doi.org/10.2113/1050039 Article history first online: 07 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation C. Moctar Doucouré, Maarten J. de Wit; Temporal variation in rigidity and mechanical behaviour of old thick continental lithosphere. South African Journal of Geology 2002;; 105 (1): 39–50. doi: https://doi.org/10.2113/1050039 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietySouth African Journal of Geology Search Advanced Search Abstract We calculate variations in the thickness of the rigid uppermost layer of the lithosphere of South Africa, including its 2.6 to 3.6 billion-year-old embedded Kaapvaal craton. Results show that this layer, known as the competent lithosphere, beneath the craton attained its present thickness of up to 120km only after 2.0 billion years ago. Prior to that the thickness of the competent lithosphere of the craton may have been up to 60% less because its upper mantle was mechanically decoupled from its upper crust. The observed variance in the depth to the base of the competent lithosphere between the Archean Kaapvaal Craton and the surrounding Mesoproterozoic terrain are interpreted in terms of distinct chemical differences. These findings have implications for understanding the ageing of continents and Archean tectonics. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.