Proto-Gondwana

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Proto-Gondwana ("first Gondwana"), also known as Proto-Gondwanaland was a Middle - Late Proterozoic. Proto-Gondwana consisted all of Phanerozoic Gondwana except Altlantica, and Congo cration. It should not be confused with the later, Phanerozoic Gondwana, which is sometimes called "Neo-Gondwana".

[edit] Formation

The formation of Proto-Gondwana occurred after the break-up of an ancient, supercontinent of Kenorland. Australia, India, East Antarctica, and Kalahari craton make up Proto-Gondwana (except today's Africa and South America). In the formation of the supercontinent Rodinia, more cratons collided with Proto-Gondwana, such as Amazonia, which will make up much of northern South America. The separation of Rodinia led more smaller continents to attach to Proto-Gondwana. In the Pannotia super-continent formation (650 million years ago), much of the Phanerozoic Gondwana (future Gondwana), was formed. The disintegration of Pannotia separated the new Gondwana and Proto-Laurasia. Approximately 560 (mya), just after Pannotia disintegrated, eastern Proto-Gondwana (Australia and Antarctica) rifted away from the rest of the supercontinent, only to be assemble back together to finally form the new Gondwana continent 10 million years later. The new Gondwana slowly drifted towards the South Pole during much of the Paleozoic Era. From Carboniferous to Middle Jurassic, Gondwana was attached to Laurasia to form the supercontinent of Pangaea. Pangaea split into its two daughter supercontinents, Laurasia and Gondwana. Gondwana rifted itself in early in the Cretaceous, into continents known today - South America, Africa, India, Australia, and Antarctica.