Editing Supercontinent (section)

=== Protopangea–Paleopangea ===
The second model (Kenorland-Arctica) is based on both [[Paleomagnetism|palaeomagnetic]] and geological evidence and proposes that the continental crust comprised a single supercontinent from {{nobr|~2.72 Ga}} until break-up during the [[Ediacaran]] period after {{nobr|~0.573 Ga}}. The [[plate reconstruction|reconstruction]]<ref name="piper1">Piper, J.D.A. "A planetary perspective on Earth evolution: Lid Tectonics before Plate Tectonics." Tectonophysics. 589 (2013): 44–56.</ref> is derived from the observation that palaeomagnetic poles converge to quasi-static positions for long intervals between ~2.72–2.115 Ga; 1.35–1.13 Ga; and {{nobr|0.75–0.573 Ga}} with only small peripheral modifications to the reconstruction.<ref name="piper2">Piper, J.D.A. "Continental velocity through geological time: the link to magmatism, crustal accretion and episodes of global cooling." Geoscience Frontiers. 4 (2013): 7–36.</ref> During the intervening periods, the poles conform to a unified apparent polar wander path. 

Although it contrasts the  first model, the first phase (Protopangea) essentially incorporates Vaalbara and Kenorland of the first model. The explanation for the prolonged duration of the Protopangea–Paleopangea supercontinent appears to be that [[lid tectonics]] (comparable to the tectonics operating on Mars and Venus) prevailed during [[Precambrian]] times. According to this theory, [[plate tectonics]] as seen on the contemporary Earth became dominant only during the latter part of geological times.<ref name="piper2" /> This approach was widely criticized by many researchers as it uses incorrect application of paleomagnetic data.<ref name="li2009">{{cite journal |last1=Z.X |first1=Li |date=October 2009 |title=How not to build a supercontinent: A reply to J.D.A. Piper |journal=Precambrian Research |volume=174 |issue=1–2 |pages=208–214 |bibcode=2009PreR..174..208L |doi=10.1016/j.precamres.2009.06.007}}</ref>