Plate Wizard is being updated within the latest release of PaleoGIS software. It provides a deformable global plate model from the Phanerozoic constrained by data from the Cenozoic and Mesozoic. It accurately reconstructs plate positions and geometries over time. The updates include making Plate Wizard compatible with PaleoGIS, extending the rigid plate model to the Silurian (440 Ma), and updating the rigid Southeast Asia model.

1. Plate Wizard updates
within the latest
release of PaleoGIS
John Watson
14-11-2013

2. Project Rationale
What is Plate Wizard?
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Plate Wizard | Robertson 2013

3. What is Plate Wizard?
 Deformable global plate model for the
Phanerozoic, data constrained for the
Cenozoic and Mesozoic
 Accurately reconstructs and predicts past
positions and geometries of rigid and
deformable plates
 User friendly ArcMap toolbar to accurately
reconstruct geo-referenced datasets
(lines, points, polygons) to their palaeolocations
 Models deformation at extensional plate
boundaries of the Atlantic, Southern
Australian and Western Indian Ocean to
restore extended continental crust to its
pre-rift geometry
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Plate Wizard | Robertson 2013

4. Rigid and Deformable Plate Model
Plate boundary definitions
Plate model rotation
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Plate Wizard | Robertson 2013

5. Plate boundary definitions – geological and geophysical data
Structural datasets
FAG (mGal)
5
Fieldwork
Crustal thickness (m)
Plate Wizard | Robertson 2013
Palaeogeographic mapping
Magnetic Anomaly (nT)

6. Plate model rotation – Hybrid model for Plate Wizard 4
Plate Wizard 2 and 3
 Fixed Hotspot reference frame – 0 to 250 Ma
Plate Wizard 3
Plate Wizard 4 (Release date: end 2013)
 Fixed Hotspot reference frame – 0 to 120 Ma
 Palaeo-mag reference frame – 120 to 440 Ma
Plate Wizard 4
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Plate Wizard | Robertson 2013

7. Plate Wizard in Application
Indian Ocean deformable model
Reconstructing data with Plate Wizard
Plate Wizard as a base for Palaeogeographic Mapping – Merlin+
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Plate Wizard | Robertson 2013

8. Indian Ocean deformable model – 250 Ma


S LR
LE
ca
r
M
ad
ag
as
India
M
EB
R

Saya de Malha
in-between
Madagascar and
India (based on
Yatheesh et al,
2006)
SM
PG
Mozambique
Seychelles and
Laxmi Ridge
joined to
northeast India
and East Africa
Ma
Tanzania
Mo
Madagascar
docked against
East Africa
SL
GR
East Antarctica
L
1:12,500,000 / WGS 1984
EB: Elan Bank / GR: Gunnerus Ridge / L: Lambert Rift / LE: Lamu Embayment / LR: Laxmi Ridge / M:
Mahanadi Rift / Ma: Majunga Basin / Mo: Morondava Basin / PG: Pranhita-Godavari Rift / R: Rovuma / S:
Seychelles / SL: Sri Lanka / SM: Saya de Malha
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Plate Wizard | Robertson 2013

9. Indian Ocean deformable model – 170 Ma


LE
Tanzania
S LR
Ma
Mo
Mozambique
R
d
Ma
as
ag
ca
r
Madagascar and
Seychelles rift from
East Africa
Seafloor spreading
initiates at ~160Ma
and East Africa
based on Muller et
al, 2008 isochron
dataset
SM
India
PG
M
170Ma: Initial separation of AntarcticaAfrica relative to India-Madagascar during
SL
the Early to Mid Jurassic (based upon EB
GR
East Antarctica
reviews by Reeves & De Wit, 2000 and
1:12,500,000 / WGS 1984
Gaina et al, 2007).
EB: Elan Bank / GR: Gunnerus Ridge / L: Lambert Rift / LE: Lamu Embayment / LR: Laxmi Ridge / M:
Mahanadi Rift / Ma: Majunga Basin / Mo: Morondava Basin / PG: Pranhita-Godavari Rift / R: Rovuma / S:
Seychelles / SL: Sri Lanka / SM: Saya de Malha
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Plate Wizard | Robertson 2013

10. Reconstructing data with Plate Wizard
North Atlantic deformable model with Tellus structural data (in grey) and sediment isopach
data (in red) reconstructed with the plate model
The data are intersected with the plate polygons and rotated to a chosen time slice with
the relevant plates
Extensional deformation
in Baffin Bay – Appended
and DEFORMABLY
MODELLED
Vs
Extensional deformation
in Labrador Sea Appended and RIGIDLY
MODELLED
Time slice – 84 Ma
Time slice – 0 Ma
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Plate Wizard | Robertson 2013
Baffin Bay –
Data appended
and deformed
Labrador Sea –
Data not appended
and deformed

11. Plate Wizard as a base for Palaeogeographic Mapping
MERLIN+: Detailed Global Palaeogeography
Palaeo-Earth
systems
(climate and tides)
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Plate Wizard | Robertson 2013

12. Summary of updates for Plate Wizard 4
 Plate Wizard 4 rigid model compatibility with PaleoGIS
 Upper Palaeozoic rigid model - data constrained to the Silurian (440 Ma) - End 2013
 Update to the rigid South East Asia model in collaboration with Robert Hall (SEARG,
Royal Holloway, University of London) - End 2013
 Continued development and enhancement of the rigid and deformable plate model
incorporating work from detailed regional studies
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Plate Wizard | Robertson 2013