page_title: List of shields and cratons
section_title: List of named cratons
hierarchical_section_title: List of shields and cratons / List of named cratons
caption_attribution_description: English: Paleotectonic map of eastern Gondwana with the Pan-African and/or circum-Antarctic orogenic (“mobile”) belts highlighted by age differences (See Fitzsimons, 2000a, cited in Meert, 2003, follow source link below). Meaning of abbreviations: Af&#160;=&#160;Afif terrane (Saudi Arabia); AFB&#160;=&#160;Albany-Fraser Belt (Australia); AS&#160;=&#160;Angavo shear zone (Madagascar); BH&#160;=&#160;Bunger Hills (Antarctica); BR&#160;=&#160;Bongolava-Ranotsara shear zone (Madagascar); BS&#160;=&#160;Betsimisaraka suture zone (Madagascar); DB&#160;=&#160;Damara Belt (Africa); DDS&#160;=&#160;Darling-Denman suture (Antarctica - Australia); DG&#160;=&#160;Denman Glacier (Antarctica); DMS&#160;=&#160;Dronning Maud suture (Antarctica); EG&#160;=&#160;Eastern Ghats (India); GB&#160;=&#160;Gariep Belt (Africa); HC&#160;=&#160;Highland Complex (Sri Lanka); LA&#160;=&#160;Lufilian Arc (Africa); LG&#160;=&#160;Lambert Graben (Antarctica); LHB&#160;=&#160;Lützow-Holm Belt (Antarctica); MD&#160;=&#160;Mwembeshi Dislocation (Africa); MP&#160;=&#160;Maud Province (Antarctica); NBS&#160;=&#160;Nabitah Suture (Arabia); nPCSM&#160;=&#160;Northern Prince Charles Mountains (Antarctica); NQ&#160;=&#160;Namaqua Belt (Africa); OSH&#160;=&#160;Onib-Sol Hamed suture (Arabia); PBB&#160;=&#160;Prydz Bay Belt (Antarctica); PC&#160;=&#160;Paughat-Cauvery (India); SB&#160;=&#160;Saldania Belt (Africa); SR&#160;=&#160;Shackelton Range (Antarctica)&#160;; UAA&#160;=&#160;Urd Al Amar suture (Arabia); VC&#160;=&#160;Vijayan Complex (Sri Lanka); WC&#160;=&#160;Wanni Complex (Sri Lanka); WI&#160;=&#160;Windmill Islands (Antarctica); ZB&#160;=&#160;Zambezi Belt (Africa).
context_page_description: A craton is an ancient part of the Earth's continental crust which has been more or less stable since Precambrian times. Cratons whose ancient rocks are widely exposed at the surface, often with relatively subdued relief, are known as shields. If the ancient rocks are largely overlain by a cover of younger rocks then the 'hidden' craton may be referred to as a platform.
context_section_description: Listed by modern continent and Gondwana, include:
caption: Gondwana and the Kuungan orogen
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