9316047 Van Schmus The formation of Gondwana during late Precambrian to Early Paleozoic times represents one of the major assemblies of a large continent in geologic history. This event fused several Archean to Early Proterozoic cratonic masses, continental fragments and marginal orogenic belts of Africa and South America during the 600 My Pan African-Brasiliano orogeny. This project continues efforts to define the crustal history of the Borborema Province in the northeastern Brazilian shield prior to the formation of Gondwana by developing a precise chronology for assembly of the diverse lithospheric elements. The data obtained, along with studies underway by other groups in Brazil and Africa will provide better understanding of the ancestry and assembly of western Gondwana. ***
