| Abstract: | We report143Nd/144Nd and87Sr/86Sr isotopic data for Lower Paleozoic phosphatic brachiopod and conodont fossils. The data appear to represent the isotopic values of Early Paleozoic seawaters. We show that different paleoceanic water masses can be distinguished on the basis of their εNd signatures. Two sides of what is classically considered one circulating Iapetus Ocean have different εNd signatures from at least the Middle Cambrian until the Late Middle Ordovician. We infer two ocean basins between North America and Baltica separated by an island and/or shoal circulation barrier. Thus, it appears necessary to redefine the area of the Iapetus Ocean. The εNd signature of the redefined smaller Iapetus Ocean ranges from −5 to −9 and the εNd signature of the larger, coeval Panthalassa Ocean, including part of what was formerly called the Iapetus Ocean, ranges from −10 to −20. The first time that the εNd values are identical in these two water masses is coincident with the onset of the Taconic Orogeny of North America. The paleogeographic geometry we infer from this work is consistent with paleogeographic reconstructions having the Baltica continent at very high latitudes in the Early/Middle Ordovician. The εNd and faunal distribution support temperature-controlled conodont faunal provinciality. A rough mean age for exposed continental crust in the Early Paleozoic can be obtained from the average εNd value of Early Paleozoic Oceans. The data suggest that the mean age of the crust as a function of time has remained essentially constant or even decreased during the past 500 Ma, and suggest substantial additions of new crust to the continents through the Phanerozoic. |
