Laurentia or Laurentie is a Paléocontinent, forming the base of the North America and the Greenland, so known under the name of North-American Craton. The Canadian Bouclier of it is the oldest part (dating from the period Archéen E, between - 4000 and - 2500 million years)

Geological history

- Protérozoïque

*Laurentia is assembled it-there-have -1900-1800 million years by the assembly of cratons Wyoming , of Hearne and of Rae , of Slave , Nain , lake Supérieur , like by accretion of element like the area of Mojave, by a series of Orogenèse S (in blue and green on the chart opposite) during the assembly of supercontinent Nuna. The accretions of Mazatzai and Yavapai take place between -1800 and -1600 My.

*De - 1100 with - 750 million years, Laurentia makes party of the Supercontinent Rodinia, of which it is the center, and is located roughly on the equator.

*De - 750 with - 600 million years, Laurentia derives towards the south with the Siberia, Baltica, the Amazonia, the Western Africa and the Craton of Rio of Plata

*En - 600 Laurentia belongs to the Supercontinent Pannotia, and is located around southern 60°.

- Paleozoic

*De - 570 with - 444 million years, Laurentia is a separated Continent and derives towards north, is located on the equator at the Silurien.

*Vers - 470 million years, the insular arc Taconique enters in collision on the southern part of Laurentia (current east coast of North America).

*De - 444 with - 414 million years, Laurentia enters in collision with Baltica and Avalonia to form the continent Laurussia, raising the mountains Calédonienne S.

*De - 340 with - 270 million years, the continent Laurussia, from which Laurentia forms part, enters in collision with supercontinent Gondwana to form supercontinent it Pangée, raising the mountains Hercynien born.

- Mesozoic

*De - 220 with - 160 million years, a rift opens between Laurentia and Gondwana, opening the Atlantique and dividing Pangée into two. Laurentia belongs to the north of Pangée, called Laurasia. It is then around 30° in north.

*Vers - 170 million years the Rocky Mountains starts to rise on the western edge of Laurentia because of the phenomenon of Subduction with the future plate Pacifique.

*Vers - 120 million years, Laurasia is fractured and Laurentia starts to separate from future the Eurasia.

*Vers - 85 million years, because of dislocation of Laurasia, Laurentia starts to be fractured into two between the future Greenland and future the North America.

- Cenozoic

*Vers - 25 million years, Laurentia was entirely detached from the Eurasia and forms two masses distinct separated by the ocean: the Greenland and the North America

*Il-y-a - 3 million years, North America is attached to the South America by the formation of the Isthme of Panama

Bonds

• Paleogeographic and Geologic Evolution off North America Series of charts of Cambien until the present of North America, by Ronald Blakey.
• Paleomap Project