Toward a More Stable Supercontinent Columbia in the Statherian

Abstract During the mid‐Proterozoic, nearly all of Earth's continents collided to form supercontinent Columbia. However, the exact timing of its formation is still debated, with estimates ranging from 1.8 to 1.6 Ga. This period, known as the Statherian, is also debated for its affinity to either the Paleoproterozoic or Mesoproterozoic eras. To address these spatiotemporal uncertainties, here we present a reliable 1.70–1.68 Ga paleomagnetic pole from mafic dyke swarms in the North China Craton, enabling global paleogeographic comparison during this critical interval. Compared with paleopoles from the likely neighbor of the North Australian Craton, although these two cratons achieved proximity as early as 1.78 Ga, they underwent slight but significant adjustments in their relative positions between 1.73 and 1.65 Ga, consistent with geological evidence. Similar reconfigurations are observed between Laurentia and North Australia, suggesting that Columbia was gradually becoming more stable in configuration during the Statherian Period.