Amazonian Craton

"Brazilian shield" redirects here. For the highlands in eastern central and southern Brazil, see Brazilian Highlands.

Approximate location of Mesoproterozoic (older than 1.3 Ga) cratons in South America and Africa. The São Luís and the Luis Alves cratonic fragments (Brazil) are shown, but the Arequipa–Antofalla Craton, the Sahara Craton and some minor African cratons are not. Other versions describe the Guiana Shield separated from the Amazonian Shield by a depression.

The Amazonian Craton is a geologic province located in South America. It occupies a large portion of the central, north and eastern part of the continent. The Guiana Shield and Central Brazil Shield (Guaporé Shield) constitutes respectively the northern and southern exhumed parts of the craton. Between the two shields lies the Amazon Rift, a zone of weakness within the craton. Smaller cratons of Precambrian rocks south of the Amazonian Shield are the Río de la Plata Craton and the São Francisco Craton, which lies to the east.

The Río Apa Craton at the Paraguay-Brazil border is considered be likely just the southern part of the Amazonian Craton.

See also

• Geography of Brazil
• Geography of South America
• South American Plate