1019:
936:
981:
951:
906:
1034:
235:
1064:
1049:
891:
921:
1546:
966:
1568:
54:
of continental fragments can be up to 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) thick and can overlay two to three crustal layers. Continental fragments have an average crustal density of 2.81 g/cm (0.102 lb/cu in) which is very similar to that of typical continental crust.
407:"Microcontinent" was initially the broader term, because it was defined morphologically rather than genetically (in terms of genesis or origin). Scrutton, Roger A. (1976) "Microcontinents and Their Significance" pp. 177–189
117:, are composed largely of granitic rock as well, but all continents contain both granitic and basaltic crust, and there is no clear dividing line between islands and microcontinents under such a definition. The
64:
cause the fragmentation of microcontinents. The zones link the extensional zones where continental pieces are already isolated through the remaining continental bridges. Additionally, they facilitate quick
172:
is home to numerous microcontinents with complex geology and tectonics. This makes it complicated to classify landmasses and determine causation for the formation of the landmass. These include southern
50:
intrusions to the crust. Studies have determined that the average crustal thickness of continental fragments is approximately 24.8 ± 5.7 kilometres (15.4 ± 3.5 mi). The
770:
R. A. J. Trouw; C. W. Passchier; L. S. A. Simőes; R. R. Andreis; C. M. Valeriano (1997). "Mesozoic tectonic evolution of the South Orkney
Microcontinent, Scotia arc, Antarctica".
46:. The rifting process that caused the continental fragments to form most likely impacts their layers and overall thickness along with the addition of
34:
that have broken off from main continental masses to form distinct islands that are often several hundred kilometers from their place of origin.
854:
133:
and was for a time above water, so it is considered a microcontinent, though not a continental fragment. Other hotspot islands such as the
823:
77:
patterns that slice the portion of continent into detachable slivers. The continental fragments are located at various angles from their
423:. But, using Scrutton's definition, "microcontinent" is a narrower term, excluding aseismic ridges of continental material, such as the
468:"Future accreted terranes: a compilation of island arcs, oceanic plateaus, submarine ridges, seamounts, and continental fragments"
722:
579:
450:
420:
738:
847:
141:
are considered neither microcontinents nor continental fragments. Not all islands can be considered microcontinents:
594:
676:"Tectonic Development of the Indonesian Archipelago and its Bearing on the Occurrence of Hydrocarbons: ABSTRACT"
1598:
157:, for example, are each within the continental shelf of an adjacent continent, separated from the mainland by
1556:
739:"Socotra Archipelago – a lifeboat in the sea of changes: advancement in Socotran insect biodiversity survey"
1462:
840:
165:
1422:
517:"Mechanisms of microcontinent release associated with wrenching-involved continental break-up; a review"
1367:
1357:
1110:
366:
298:
290:
106:
621:"From microcontinents to extensional allochthons: witnesses of how continents rift and break apart?"
58:
1603:
1576:
1342:
620:
428:
272:
42:
Continental fragments and microcontinent crustal compositions are very similar to those of regular
1399:
1394:
675:
387:, a continent that will form in 3 to 20 million years time because of its breakoff with mainland
266:
98:
61:
691:
1337:
122:
1222:
1130:
940:
935:
150:
516:
1207:
779:
632:
528:
479:
218:
158:
138:
8:
1608:
1571:
1518:
1308:
1267:
769:
260:
66:
1227:
783:
636:
532:
483:
1426:
1272:
1252:
805:
656:
552:
301: – A Precambrian microcontinent that broke away as India and Madagascar separated
293: – A microcontinent underlying the Seychelles Islands in the western Indian Ocean
234:
168:
are considered continental fragments, although this designation is controversial. The
1493:
1347:
1312:
718:
695:
660:
648:
575:
556:
544:
497:
446:
416:
384:
371:
284:
126:
118:
102:
43:
809:
515:
Nemčok, M.; Sinha, S. T.; Doré, A. G.; Lundin, E. R.; Mascle, J.; Rybár, S. (2016).
1508:
1482:
1172:
795:
787:
687:
640:
536:
487:
248:
229:
182:
134:
1498:
1468:
1409:
1232:
606:
424:
305:
178:
78:
70:
1545:
1430:
1150:
1104:
243:
202:
791:
595:
UT Austin scientist plays major rule in study of underwater "micro-continent".
1592:
1447:
985:
980:
970:
965:
699:
652:
548:
501:
326:
174:
146:
114:
753:
644:
1550:
1503:
1237:
1212:
1023:
1018:
492:
467:
254:
198:
194:
238:
Azores
Plateau, a continental fragment located in the North Atlantic Ocean
1404:
1372:
1362:
206:
169:
74:
1442:
1352:
1332:
1182:
910:
905:
824:"Africa is Splitting into Two Continents and May Open a Vast New Ocean"
800:
358:
278:
832:
1513:
1377:
1327:
1247:
1242:
1187:
1120:
863:
712:
569:
540:
440:
341:
154:
31:
224:
1437:
1322:
1202:
1192:
1155:
1140:
1125:
1115:
1038:
1033:
320:
186:
130:
90:
51:
1457:
1452:
1217:
1197:
1177:
1145:
1135:
1068:
1063:
1053:
1048:
362:
335: – Largest of four islands of the Socotra Archipelago, Yemen
332:
23:
230:
Continental fragments (pieces of
Pangaea smaller than Australia)
1488:
1257:
955:
950:
895:
890:
388:
142:
94:
348:
251: – Continental fragment seamount southeast of New Zealand
1262:
867:
329: – Bathymetric feature northwest of Scotland and Ireland
316:
312:
214:
210:
110:
47:
69:
across narrow zones and near-vertical strike-slip-dominated
925:
920:
354:
190:
431:, which could still be considered "continental fragments".
344: – Mostly submerged continental crust area in Oceania
269: – Continental fragment seamount west of New Zealand
713:
Monk, K.A.; Fretes, Y.; Reksodiharjo-Lilley, G. (1996).
618:
570:
Monk, K.A.; Fretes, Y.; Reksodiharjo-Lilley, G. (1996).
441:
Monk, K.A.; Fretes, Y.; Reksodiharjo-Lilley, G. (1996).
263: – Submerged microcontinent south east of Tasmania
287: – Submarine plateau in the western Indian Ocean
514:
619:
PĂ©ron-Pinvidic, Gwenn; Manatschal, Gianreto (2010).
574:. Hong Kong: Periplus Editions Ltd. pp. 27–29.
445:. Hong Kong: Periplus Editions Ltd. pp. 41–43.
374: – Oceanic plateau in the southern Indian Ocean
308: – Undersea bathymetric high west of Australia
673:
225:List of continental fragments and microcontinents
129:; however, it was associated with the breakup of
1590:
717:. Hong Kong: Periplus Editions Ltd. p. 41.
521:Geological Society, London, Special Publications
465:
415:American Geophysical Union, Washington, D.C.,
275: – Atlantic fragment of continental crust
848:
323:formed via the subduction of a microcontinent
16:Part of a continent broken from its main mass
692:10.1306/a25fe8fb-171b-11d7-8645000102c1865d
466:Tetreault, J. L.; Buiter, S. J. H. (2014).
349:Other microcontinents (formed post-Pangaea)
257: – Oceanic plateau in the Indian Ocean
855:
841:
319:, and other islands of eastern Indonesia;
281: – Island country in the Indian Ocean
799:
746:Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae
491:
378:
233:
113:. Other islands, such as several in the
862:
715:The Ecology of Nusa Tenggara and Maluku
572:The Ecology of Nusa Tenggara and Maluku
443:The Ecology of Nusa Tenggara and Maluku
1591:
752:(supplementum 2): 1–26. Archived from
89:Some microcontinents are fragments of
836:
607:Sci/Tech 'Lost continent' discovered
413:Geodynamics: Progress and Prospects
13:
588:
411:Drake, Charles L. (1976) (editor)
14:
1620:
1567:
1566:
1544:
1062:
1047:
1032:
1017:
979:
964:
949:
934:
919:
904:
889:
1390:Possible future supercontinents
816:
763:
731:
706:
164:Several islands in the eastern
667:
612:
600:
563:
508:
459:
434:
401:
1:
395:
97:continents; examples include
20:Continental crustal fragments
1168:Other prehistoric continents
7:
338:South Orkney microcontinent
10:
1625:
674:T. O. Simanjuntak (1994).
84:
1536:
1294:
1290:
1089:
1085:
1006:
1002:
878:
874:
792:10.1017/S0016756897007036
291:Seychelles Microcontinent
107:Seychelles Microcontinent
37:
1577:Chronology of continents
273:Jan Mayen Microcontinent
645:10.1144/1354-079309-903
609:Retrieved on 2007-07-03
597:Retrieved on 2007-07-03
267:Joseph Gilbert Seamount
1338:Great Australian Bight
493:10.5194/se-5-1243-2014
379:Future microcontinents
239:
166:Indonesian Archipelago
161:flooding its margins.
123:large igneous province
1599:Continental fragments
365:, and other granitic
237:
125:formed by a volcanic
105:, which includes the
1562:Continental fragment
1557:Regions of the world
625:Petroleum Geoscience
109:; and the island of
1519:Indian Subcontinent
1309:Submerged continent
784:1997GeoM..134..383T
772:Geological Magazine
637:2010PetGe..16..189P
533:2016GSLSP.431..323N
484:2014SolE....5.1243T
261:East Tasman Plateau
1300:
1095:
1012:
884:
240:
1586:
1585:
1532:
1531:
1527:
1526:
1348:Kerguelen Plateau
1286:
1285:
1281:
1280:
1081:
1080:
1076:
1075:
998:
997:
993:
992:
724:978-962-593-076-3
581:978-962-593-076-3
452:978-962-593-076-3
421:978-0-87590-203-6
372:Kerguelen Plateau
367:Caribbean islands
285:Mascarene Plateau
119:Kerguelen Plateau
103:Mascarene Plateau
93:or other ancient
52:sedimentary layer
44:continental crust
1616:
1570:
1569:
1551:World portal
1549:
1548:
1486:
1435:
1392:
1320:
1297:
1296:
1292:
1291:
1170:
1108:
1092:
1091:
1087:
1086:
1066:
1051:
1036:
1021:
1009:
1008:
1004:
1003:
983:
968:
953:
938:
923:
908:
893:
881:
880:
876:
875:
857:
850:
843:
834:
833:
828:
827:
820:
814:
813:
803:
767:
761:
760:
758:
743:
735:
729:
728:
710:
704:
703:
671:
665:
664:
616:
610:
604:
598:
592:
586:
585:
567:
561:
560:
541:10.1144/SP431.14
512:
506:
505:
495:
478:(2): 1243–1275.
463:
457:
456:
438:
432:
405:
249:Bollons Seamount
135:Hawaiian Islands
79:transform faults
67:crustal thinning
30:, are pieces of
1624:
1623:
1619:
1618:
1617:
1615:
1614:
1613:
1604:Plate tectonics
1589:
1588:
1587:
1582:
1581:
1543:
1528:
1523:
1509:Eastern Siberia
1499:Central America
1487:
1480:
1474:
1469:Terra Australis
1436:
1420:
1414:
1410:Pangaea Proxima
1393:
1388:
1382:
1321:
1317:microcontinents
1306:
1282:
1277:
1223:East Antarctica
1171:
1166:
1160:
1109:
1105:supercontinents
1101:
1077:
1072:
1067:
1057:
1052:
1042:
1037:
1027:
1022:
994:
989:
984:
974:
969:
959:
954:
944:
939:
929:
924:
914:
909:
899:
894:
870:
861:
831:
826:. 7 March 2023.
822:
821:
817:
768:
764:
756:
741:
737:
736:
732:
725:
711:
707:
672:
668:
617:
613:
605:
601:
593:
589:
582:
568:
564:
513:
509:
464:
460:
453:
439:
435:
429:Jan Mayen Ridge
425:Lomonosov Ridge
406:
402:
398:
381:
351:
327:Rockall Plateau
306:Wallaby Plateau
232:
227:
101:; the northern
87:
73:. They develop
40:
28:microcontinents
17:
12:
11:
5:
1622:
1612:
1611:
1606:
1601:
1584:
1583:
1580:
1579:
1574:
1564:
1559:
1554:
1538:
1537:
1534:
1533:
1530:
1529:
1525:
1524:
1522:
1521:
1516:
1511:
1506:
1504:Eastern Africa
1501:
1496:
1491:
1477:
1475:
1473:
1472:
1465:
1460:
1455:
1450:
1445:
1440:
1417:
1415:
1413:
1412:
1407:
1402:
1397:
1385:
1383:
1381:
1380:
1375:
1370:
1365:
1360:
1355:
1350:
1345:
1340:
1335:
1330:
1325:
1303:
1301:
1295:
1288:
1287:
1284:
1283:
1279:
1278:
1276:
1275:
1270:
1265:
1260:
1255:
1250:
1245:
1240:
1235:
1230:
1225:
1220:
1215:
1210:
1205:
1200:
1195:
1190:
1185:
1180:
1175:
1163:
1161:
1159:
1158:
1153:
1148:
1143:
1138:
1133:
1128:
1123:
1118:
1113:
1098:
1096:
1090:
1083:
1082:
1079:
1078:
1074:
1073:
1060:
1058:
1045:
1043:
1030:
1028:
1015:
1013:
1007:
1000:
999:
996:
995:
991:
990:
977:
975:
962:
960:
947:
945:
932:
930:
917:
915:
902:
900:
887:
885:
879:
872:
871:
860:
859:
852:
845:
837:
830:
829:
815:
778:(3): 383–401.
762:
759:on 2013-11-11.
730:
723:
705:
666:
631:(3): 189–197.
611:
599:
587:
580:
562:
527:(1): 323–359.
507:
458:
451:
433:
399:
397:
394:
393:
392:
380:
377:
376:
375:
369:
350:
347:
346:
345:
339:
336:
330:
324:
309:
302:
296:
295:
294:
282:
276:
270:
264:
258:
252:
246:
244:Azores Plateau
231:
228:
226:
223:
86:
83:
39:
36:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1621:
1610:
1607:
1605:
1602:
1600:
1597:
1596:
1594:
1578:
1575:
1573:
1565:
1563:
1560:
1558:
1555:
1553:
1552:
1547:
1540:
1539:
1535:
1520:
1517:
1515:
1512:
1510:
1507:
1505:
1502:
1500:
1497:
1495:
1492:
1490:
1485:
1484:
1483:Subcontinents
1479:
1478:
1476:
1471:
1470:
1466:
1464:
1461:
1459:
1456:
1454:
1451:
1449:
1448:Kumari Kandam
1446:
1444:
1441:
1439:
1434:
1432:
1428:
1424:
1419:
1418:
1416:
1411:
1408:
1406:
1403:
1401:
1398:
1396:
1391:
1387:
1386:
1384:
1379:
1376:
1374:
1371:
1369:
1366:
1364:
1361:
1359:
1356:
1354:
1351:
1349:
1346:
1344:
1341:
1339:
1336:
1334:
1331:
1329:
1326:
1324:
1319:
1318:
1314:
1310:
1305:
1304:
1302:
1299:
1298:
1293:
1289:
1274:
1271:
1269:
1266:
1264:
1261:
1259:
1256:
1254:
1251:
1249:
1246:
1244:
1241:
1239:
1236:
1234:
1231:
1229:
1226:
1224:
1221:
1219:
1216:
1214:
1211:
1209:
1206:
1204:
1201:
1199:
1196:
1194:
1191:
1189:
1186:
1184:
1181:
1179:
1176:
1174:
1169:
1165:
1164:
1162:
1157:
1154:
1152:
1149:
1147:
1144:
1142:
1139:
1137:
1134:
1132:
1129:
1127:
1124:
1122:
1119:
1117:
1114:
1112:
1107:
1106:
1100:
1099:
1097:
1094:
1093:
1088:
1084:
1071:
1070:
1065:
1059:
1056:
1055:
1050:
1044:
1041:
1040:
1035:
1029:
1026:
1025:
1020:
1014:
1011:
1010:
1005:
1001:
988:
987:
986:South America
982:
976:
973:
972:
971:North America
967:
961:
958:
957:
952:
946:
943:
942:
937:
931:
928:
927:
922:
916:
913:
912:
907:
901:
898:
897:
892:
886:
883:
882:
877:
873:
869:
865:
858:
853:
851:
846:
844:
839:
838:
835:
825:
819:
811:
807:
802:
797:
793:
789:
785:
781:
777:
773:
766:
755:
751:
747:
740:
734:
726:
720:
716:
709:
701:
697:
693:
689:
685:
681:
680:AAPG Bulletin
677:
670:
662:
658:
654:
650:
646:
642:
638:
634:
630:
626:
622:
615:
608:
603:
596:
591:
583:
577:
573:
566:
558:
554:
550:
546:
542:
538:
534:
530:
526:
522:
518:
511:
503:
499:
494:
489:
485:
481:
477:
473:
469:
462:
454:
448:
444:
437:
430:
426:
422:
418:
414:
410:
404:
400:
390:
386:
383:
382:
373:
370:
368:
364:
360:
356:
353:
352:
343:
340:
337:
334:
331:
328:
325:
322:
318:
314:
310:
307:
303:
300:
297:
292:
289:
288:
286:
283:
280:
277:
274:
271:
268:
265:
262:
259:
256:
253:
250:
247:
245:
242:
241:
236:
222:
220:
219:Nusa Tenggara
216:
212:
208:
204:
200:
196:
192:
188:
184:
180:
176:
171:
167:
162:
160:
156:
152:
148:
147:British Isles
144:
140:
136:
132:
128:
124:
120:
116:
115:Caribbean Sea
112:
108:
104:
100:
96:
92:
82:
80:
76:
72:
68:
63:
60:
56:
53:
49:
45:
35:
33:
29:
25:
21:
1561:
1542:
1481:
1467:
1431:hypothesised
1421:
1389:
1316:
1307:
1238:Kazakhstania
1213:Congo Craton
1167:
1103:Prehistoric
1102:
1061:
1046:
1031:
1024:Afro-Eurasia
1016:
978:
963:
948:
933:
918:
903:
888:
818:
775:
771:
765:
754:the original
749:
745:
733:
714:
708:
683:
679:
669:
628:
624:
614:
602:
590:
571:
565:
524:
520:
510:
475:
471:
461:
442:
436:
412:
408:
403:
255:Broken Ridge
183:Sulu Islands
163:
151:Newfoundland
88:
57:
41:
27:
19:
18:
1405:Novopangaea
1273:South China
1253:North China
801:11449/36781
472:Solid Earth
170:archipelago
159:inland seas
75:fault-block
62:fault zones
59:Strike-slip
1609:Continents
1593:Categories
1541:See also:
1443:Hyperborea
1433:continents
1368:Seychelles
1353:Madagascar
1333:Doggerland
1228:Euramerica
1183:Asiamerica
911:Antarctica
864:Continents
396:References
359:Hispaniola
279:Madagascar
99:Madagascar
32:continents
24:synonymous
1514:Greenland
1378:Zealandia
1343:Jan Mayen
1328:Cathaysia
1248:Laurentia
1243:Laramidia
1233:Kalaharia
1188:Atlantica
1121:Kenorland
941:Australia
700:0149-1423
661:131142997
653:1354-0793
557:131615662
549:0305-8719
502:1869-9529
342:Zealandia
311:Possibly
304:Parts of
201:complex (
155:Sri Lanka
22:, partly
1572:Category
1438:Atlantis
1423:Mythical
1358:Mauritia
1323:Beringia
1208:Cimmeria
1203:Chilenia
1193:Avalonia
1173:Amazonia
1156:Vaalbara
1141:Pannotia
1126:Laurasia
1116:Gondwana
1111:Columbia
1039:Americas
810:53705372
427:and the
321:Sulawesi
299:Mauritia
187:Sulawesi
131:Gondwana
95:cratonic
91:Gondwana
1458:Meropis
1453:Lemuria
1268:Siberia
1218:Cuyania
1198:Baltica
1178:Arctica
1146:Rodinia
1136:Pangaea
1069:Oceania
1054:Eurasia
780:Bibcode
633:Bibcode
529:Bibcode
480:Bibcode
363:Jamaica
333:Socotra
189:), the
179:Banggai
139:Iceland
127:hotspot
85:History
1494:Arabia
1489:Alaska
1429:, and
1400:Aurica
1395:Amasia
1258:Pampia
956:Europe
896:Africa
808:
721:
698:
659:
651:
578:
555:
547:
500:
449:
419:
389:Africa
213:, and
203:Maluku
153:, and
145:, the
143:Borneo
71:faults
38:Causes
1373:Sunda
1363:Sahul
1313:lands
1263:Sahul
868:Earth
806:S2CID
757:(PDF)
742:(PDF)
657:S2CID
553:S2CID
317:Timor
313:Sumba
215:Timor
211:Sumba
199:Ambon
195:Seram
175:Bacan
121:is a
111:Timor
48:mafic
26:with
1427:lost
1315:and
1131:Nena
926:Asia
719:ISBN
696:ISSN
649:ISSN
576:ISBN
545:ISSN
498:ISSN
447:ISBN
417:ISBN
385:Ajan
355:Cuba
191:Buru
137:and
866:of
796:hdl
788:doi
776:134
688:doi
641:doi
537:doi
525:431
488:doi
207:Obi
205:),
1595::
1463:Mu
1425:,
1151:Ur
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409:In
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