List of orogenies explained

The following is a list of known orogenies organised by continent, starting with the oldest in each. The headings are present-day continents, which may differ from the geography contemporary to the orogenies. Some orogenies encompass more than one continent and may have different names in each, and some very large orogenies include sub-orogenies. As with other geological phenomena, orogenies are often subject to revised interpretations of their age, type and associated paleogeography.

In some (especially older) literature, the term orogeny refers to a long episode of basin formation and deposition of sediments over hundreds of millions of years, ending with deformation (sometimes including metamorphism) of these deposits. However, some workers use the term only for the final mountain-building deformation event over tens of millions of years or shorter.[1] [2]

African orogenies

Antarctic orogenies

Orogenies affecting Antarctica include:[3]

Asian orogenies

European orogenies

North American orogenies

Oceania orogenies

Australian orogenies

New Zealand orogenies

South American orogenies

Table

OrogenyEstimated start time(Ga)Estimated end time(Ga)Continent
style=text-align:left Pan-African orogeny.55.55Africa
style=text-align:left Damara orogeny.53.5Africa
style=text-align:left Kibaran orogeny1.41Africa
style=text-align:left Eburnean orogeny2.22Africa
style=text-align:left East African Orogeny.75.55Africa
style=text-align:left Mauritanide Orogeny.32.27Africa
style=text-align:left Mozambique Orogeny2.652.97Africa
style=text-align:left Zambezi Orogeny.89.53Africa
style=text-align:left Napier orogeny4Antarctica
style=text-align:left Rayner orogeny3.5Antarctica
style=text-align:left Humboldt orogeny3Antarctica
style=text-align:left Insel orogeny2.65Antarctica
style=text-align:left Early Ruker orogeny21.7Antarctica
style=text-align:left Late Ruker orogeny1Antarctica
style=text-align:left Beardmore orogeny.62Antarctica
style=text-align:left Ross orogeny.55.48Antarctica
style=text-align:left Borchgrevink orogeny.42.35Antarctica
style=text-align:left Aravalli-Delhi Orogen2.3Asia
style=text-align:left Aravalli-Delhi Orogen2.3Asia
style=text-align:left Altaid Orogeny.54Asia
style=text-align:left Uralian orogeny.3.25Asia
style=text-align:left Cimmerian orogeny.22Asia
style=text-align:left Dabie-Sulu orogeny.24Asia
style=text-align:left Persia–Tibet–Burma orogeny.55Asia
style=text-align:left Himalayan orogeny.29.16Asia
style=text-align:left Saamian orogeny3.12.9Europe
style=text-align:left Lopian orogeny2.92.6Europe
style=text-align:left Svecofennian orogeny2.01.75Europe
style=text-align:left Gothian orogeny1.751.5Europe
style=text-align:left Sveconorwegian orogeny1.14.96Europe
style=text-align:left Timanide orogeny.62.55Europe
style=text-align:left Cadomian orogeny.66.54Europe
style=text-align:left Caledonian orogeny.49.39Europe
style=text-align:left Variscan orogeny.44.35Europe
style=text-align:left Uralian orogeny.32.25Europe
style=text-align:left Alpine orogeny.15.25Europe
style=text-align:left Mediterranean Ridge.15Europe
style=text-align:left Algoman orogeny2.72.5North America
style=text-align:left Wopmay orogeny2.11.9North America
style=text-align:left Trans-Hudson orogeny11.8North America
style=text-align:left Nagssugtoqidian orogeny1.91.8North America
style=text-align:left Ketilidian orogeny1.851.72North America
style=text-align:left Penokean orogeny1.851.84North America
style=text-align:left Great Falls orogeny1.77North America
style=text-align:left Ivanpah orogeny1.711.70North America
style=text-align:left Yavapai orogeny1.711.70North America
style=text-align:left Mazatzal orogeny1.671.65North America
style=text-align:left Picuris orogeny1.431.30North America
style=text-align:left Grenville orogeny1.25.98North America
style=text-align:left Caledonian orogeny East Greenland Orogen.72.42North America
style=text-align:left Caledonian orogeny Taconic orogeny.44North America
style=text-align:left Caledonian orogeny Acadian orogeny.37North America
style=text-align:left Appalachian orogeny.48North America
style=text-align:left Taconic orogeny.44North America
style=text-align:left Acadian orogeny.37North America
style=text-align:left Alleghanian orogeny.35North America
style=text-align:left Ouachita orogeny.29North America
style=text-align:left Antler orogeny.35.32North America
style=text-align:left Innuitian orogeny.45North America
style=text-align:left Sonoma orogeny.27.24North America
style=text-align:left Nevadan orogeny.2North America
style=text-align:left Sevier orogeny.14.05North America
style=text-align:left Laramide orogeny.07.04North America
style=text-align:left Pasadena orogeny.03North America
style=text-align:left Sleaford orogeny2.442.42Oceania
style=text-align:left Glenburgh orogeny21.92Oceania
style=text-align:left Barramundi orogeny1.891.85Oceania
style=text-align:left Kimban orogeny1.841.70Oceania
style=text-align:left Cornian orogeny21.86Oceania
style=text-align:left Miltalie orogeny1.95Oceania
style=text-align:left Yapungku orogeny1.76Oceania
style=text-align:left Albany-Fraser orogeny1.711.02Oceania
style=text-align:left Mangaroon orogeny1.681.62Oceania
style=text-align:left Isan orogeny1.60Oceania
style=text-align:left Kararan orogeny1.571.55Oceania
style=text-align:left Olarian orogeny1.45Oceania
style=text-align:left Capricorn orogeny1.3Oceania
style=text-align:left Musgrave orogeny1.221.12Oceania
style=text-align:left Edmundian orogeny1.681.46Oceania
style=text-align:left Petermann orogeny.55.53Oceania
style=text-align:left Delamerian Orogeny.51Oceania
style=text-align:left Lachlan Orogeny.54.44Oceania
style=text-align:left Thomson Orogeny.51.49Oceania
style=text-align:left Alice Springs Orogeny.45.30Oceania
style=text-align:left Kanimblan Orogeny.32Oceania
style=text-align:left Hunter-Bowen orogeny.26.22Oceania
style=text-align:left Tuhua Orogeny.37.33Oceania
style=text-align:left Rangitata Orogeny.14.09Oceania
style=text-align:left Kaikoura Orogeny.03Oceania
style=text-align:left Transamazonian orogeny2.141.94South America
style=text-align:left Guriense orogeny2.82.7South America
style=text-align:left Sunsás orogeny1.41.1South America
style=text-align:left Cariri Velhos orogeny.54South America
style=text-align:left Brasiliano-Pan African orogeny.54South America
style=text-align:left Pampean orogeny.53.48South America
style=text-align:left Chonide orogeny.25.20South America
style=text-align:left Terra Australis Orogen.54.23South America
style=text-align:left Famatinian orogeny.49.46South America
style=text-align:left San Rafael orogeny.29.25South America
style=text-align:left Toco orogeny.33.30South America
style=text-align:left Andean orogeny.200South America

Notes and References

  1. Sengör, A.M.C. (1990); Plate tectonics and orogenic research after 25 years: A Tethyan perspective. Earth Sci. Reviews, 277, 1-201.
  2. van Dijk, J.P. (1992); Late Neogene fore-arc basin evolution in the Calabrian Arc (Central Mediterranean). Tectonic sequence stratigraphy and dynamic geohistory. With special reference to the geology of Central Calabria. Geologica Ultrajectina, 92, 288 pp. ISBN 90-71577-46-5; pp. 251-264
  3. Web site: Geochronology . 2010-11-26 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20081019222334/http://home.freeuk.com/gtlloyd/tam/geochron.htm . 2008-10-19 . Tectonics of the Transantarctic Mountains: Geochronology
  4. Book: Strachan, R.A. . Smith, M. . Harris, A.L. . Fettes, D.J.. The Geology of Scotland. Trewin N.H.. Geological Society, London. 2002. 4: The Northern Highland and Grampian terranes. https://books.google.com/books?id=ObdepEp9r7kC&q=%22northern+highland+and+grampian+terranes%22+scotland&pg=PA81 . 978-1-86239-126-0.
  5. Alkmima, Fernando F. and Stephen Marshak; Transamazonian Orogeny in the Southern São Francisco Craton Region, Minas Gerais, Brazil: evidence for Paleoproterozoic collision and collapse in the Quadrilátero Ferrífero, Precambrian Research, Volume 90, Issues 1–2, 30 June 1998, Pages 29–58
  6. https://books.google.com/books?id=h4DBQR9jDsoC&dq=edad%22cordillera+de+la+costa%22+chile+geologia&pg=PA364 The Geology of Chile