U–Pb baddeleyite ages demonstrate the presence of three dyke generations within the NW-trending Pará de Minas swarm (São Francisco craton, South America), dated at ca. 1795 Ma (1798 ± 4, 1791 ± 7 and 1793 ± 18 Ma), ca. 1710 Ma (1702 ± 13 and 1717 ± 11 Ma) and 766 ± 36 Ma. These ages have implications for the São Francisco-Congo (SF-Congo) craton within the Rodinia and Columbia supercontinent configurations. At 1795 Ma, the Rio de la Plata craton (1790 ± 5 Ma Uruguayan dykes), Amazonian craton (1790–1780 Ma Avanavero LIP), Sarmatia (1789 ± 3 Ma Tomashgorod dyke), North Australia (1790 ± 4 Ma Hart dolerites) and the North China craton (1790–1770 Ma Taihang-Xiong’er event) could potentially have been “next-door neighbours” to the SF-Congo craton. Possible matches at 1710 Ma are the 1750–1700 Ma Bilyakchan-Ulkan complex and coeval dykes in the Siberian craton and the 1730 Ma Miyun dyke swarm in NCC. Given large uncertainties, the 766 ± 36 Ma age may be compared with the age of the 790 Ma Niquelândia complex in adjacent Goias state, the 799 Ma Gannakouriep dykes in the Kalahari craton, the 780 Ma Gunbarrel LIP of western Laurentia, the 760 Ma Mount Rogers LIP of eastern Laurentia and the 755 Ma Mundine Well event (western Australia). We propose a reconstruction in which the SF-Congo is attached to North China and Siberia, which existed from 1790 to 1380 Ma when SF-Congo and North China broke away from Siberia, and until 930 Ma when North China separated from SF-Congo.

We present new geochemical and Nd isotopic data on two Mesoproterozoic Listvyanka (1350 ± 6 Ma) and Goloustnaya (1338 ± 3 Ma) mafic dyke swarms located in the Irkutsk Promontory of the southern part of the Siberian craton. Listvyanka dykes are sub-vertical with NNE trend, while Goloustnaya dykes are characterized by prevailing W trend. Listvyanka and Goloustnaya dykes are composed of medium to coarse grained dolerites. All dolerites correspond to sub-alkaline tholeiitic basalts according to their major-element compositions with lower to moderate mg#, varying from 36 to 54. The trace and rare earth element abundances in Listvyanka and Goloustnaya dolerites are generally close to basalts of the oceanic island basalts (OIB) type. The Listvyanka dolerites demonstrate slightly positive εNd(t) values varying from +1.1 to +1.5, while the Goloustnaya dolerites are characterized by lower εNd(t) values ranging from −0.9 to +0.1. Geochemical and isotopic affinities of the Listvyanka dolerites suggest their enrichment by a mantle plume related source. For the Goloustnaya dolerites, we assume also some additional lithospheric input to their mantle plume-related source. The emplacement of both studied dolerites took place in intracontinental extensional setting, caused by a single rising mantle plume. Listvyanka and Goloustnaya dolerites are coeval to several mafic magmatic events in northern Laurentia and likely represent part of the Mesoproterozoic plumbing system of a Siberian–Laurentian Large Igneous Province.

Siberian Craton is generally recognised as one of the building blocks of two supercontinents: Mesoproterozoic Nuna (Columbia) and Neoproterozoic Rodinia. Although the exact Siberian positions in Nuna and Rodinia are debated, most workers agree that the southern part of Siberia (hereafter in present day coordinates) has been located not too far from the northern margin of Laurentia (cratonic part of North America) between ca. 1600 Ma and ca. 700 Ma. New geochronological, paleomagnetic and geochemical data from the Siberian craton obtained in recent years improved our understanding of Siberian geological history comparing to previous reviews. The progress in global Precambrian paleogeography also contributed to a re-evaluation of the Siberian tectonic history. The compilation of Siberian paleomagnetic data suggests that after the final assembly of Siberian Craton and until Ediacaran time the craton mostly occupied the low- to moderate latitudes. Most of this time western, northern and eastern Siberian edges have been passive or active oceanic margins. The southern margin Siberian margin has been probably connected with some other continent. Using new geological and paleomagnetic data, in particular recent results of the detrital zircons distributions in Siberia, Laurentia and other ancient continents, we tested several paleogeographic reconstructions of this connection. We also propose a new model of the breakup of Siberia from the remnants of Rodinia and consequent opening of the Paleo-Asian Ocean.