The Varanger Glacial Event (sometimes termed the Stuartian-Varangian
? with Stuartian
? being the earlier part) was a world wide
glaciation that occurred around 950-600 Million Years Ago. The population of acritarchs
? crashed during this glaciation and it is claimed that
oxygen levels in the
atmosphere increased after the glaciation. There are a number of enigmatic features with regard to this glaciation including indications of glaciation at very low latitudes and the presence of
limestones -- normally warm
water sediments above, below and intermixed with glacial deposits. Paleomagnetism
? seems to indicate very high
continental drift rates leading some geologists to question whether some of the phenomena might be due to [magnetic pole]
? wandering rather than plate motion and low latitiude
? glaciation. However, cabon isotope analysis indicates that several worldwide glaciations may have occurred. Evidence of the Varanger event is found in various places and times: The
Congo from 950-750Ma and 620-600Ma.
Australia from 800-780Ma and 690-680Ma.
China 800-760Ma, 740-700Ma and 600Ma; Western
North America 850-800Ma,
Sahara 730-650Ma,
Norway 650Ma. Spitzpergen
? 593-573Ma. Other known world wide glaciations include the Huronian
? from 2400Ma to 2100Ma, Andean-Saharan
? from 450-420Ma, the Karoo
? glaciation from 360Ma to 260Ma, and the
Cenozoic glaciation which started 30Ma in
Antarctica and may not be over.