"This Memoir focuses on 7 'turning points' that had specific and lasting impacts on Laurentian evolution: The Neoarchean, characterized by cratonization; the Paleoproterozoic and the initial assembly of Laurentia; the Mesoproterozoic southern margin of Laurentia; the Midcontinent rift and the Grenville orogeny; (5) the Neoproterozoic breakup of Rodinia; the mid-Paleozoic phases of the Appalachian-Caledonian orogen; and the Jurassic-Paleogene assembly of the North American Cordillerar"--

Explores the tectonics interaction among the exotic terrians between Laurentia and Southwest Gondwana. The authors reveal data that sheds light on pre-Pangea connections between Laurentia and Southwest Gondwana. These data concern the presence of Ollenelus and associated fauna in the Precordillera of central Western South America; the common early Paleozoic paleomagnetic data, the presence of a large early Paleozoic carbo nate platform distinct from the Southwest Gondwanan clastic platforms associated with glacial deposits, and the exotic nature of the Grenville basement of this platform.

"The Ediacaran-Ordovician of East Laurentia is a product of the 12th International Symposium on the Cambrian System held in eastern New York and western Vermont in July and August of 2007. This well illustrated, important contribution includes a new regional summary of Ediacaran-Ordovician epeirogeny, tectonics, eustasy, and oceanic oxygenation along the New York Promontory, a detailed week-long field trip guide, and abstracts of oral and poster presentations of international studies on the Cambrian Period."--Publisher's description.