Crustal deformation of Gondwana during the Late Palaeozoic Ice Age

It is widely documented in the fluvial terrace and the sedimentary archive that Late Cenozoic landscapes have experienced an increase in non-steady-state uplift. With stepwise increase in uplift with climate transitions, this naturally led research to link uplift and climate. Further documented was the influence of crustal domain in controlling rates, where younger crust appears to react with greater intensity than its older, Archaean and Proterozoic counterparts. We began this project questioning that if Late Cenozoic crustal deformation is related in some way to increasing climate deterioration, then we should expect similar patterns during analogous periods. The selected period was the Late Palaeozoic Ice Age. Both exhibit similar low modelled CO₂, high δ¹⁸O, high-frequency and high-magnitude oscillations in sea level, direct evidence of glaciation and, in comparison to earlier glacial episodes, biological complexity. Thermochronology data was compiled from terranes across Gondwana to provide a regional perspective of the nature of exhumation. The results are as follows. A pattern was evident of higher exhumation rates from Gondwanan-aged crustal domains in contrast to earlier Proterozoic and Archaean domains. Although expected and fitting with theory of how the crust deforms, this pattern is most curious. Linking the timing of exhumation with stages of climate deterioration proved difficult due to the resolution at which thermochronology describes exhumation. The presentation will explore the validity of assumptions and limitations of methodology and preservation of evidence, with discussion of avenues for further research on the topic.