Phanerozoic plate tectonics

Scotese, C.R. (1992) Phanerozoic Plate Tectonic Reconstructions. Paleomap Project. Progress Report, 36,1-54. 

Steuber T. and Veizer J. (2002) Phanerozoic record of plate tectonic control of seawater chemistry and carbonate sedimentation. Geology 1123—1126. 

Holland and Zimmermann, 2000). The latter authors do accept, however, that there is generally lower dolomite abundance in carbonate sediments deposited during the past 200 Myr. These qualihcations notwithstanding, a number of previously described parameters (Sr/Ca, Mg/ Ca, aragonite/calcite, possibly dolomite/calcite, and frequency of ooids and iron ores) appear to be related in some degree to sea-level stands, the latter at least in part a reflection of plate tectonic activity during the Phanerozoic. 

Thus, it appears that the apparent trends in Phanerozoic carbonate mineralogy are related to changes in atmosphere-hydrosphere conditions that are driven in part by plate tectonic mechanisms. However, we are aware that this tentative proposition requires collection of more data on the detailed chemistry and mineralogy of Phanerozoic carbonate sequences worldwide as well as resolution of the problem related to the past production rates of the oceanic lithosphere. 

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