Continental Assembly Selection in Wilson-Cycle Systems: A Projected Topological Free-Energy Framework with Reproducible Evidence Protocol
Abstract
Abstract The Wilson cycle and the supercontinent cycle show that ocean basins can open, mature, close by subduction, and terminate in continental collision, while continents can repeatedly disperse and reassemble into supercontinent-like configurations. A persistent organization-level question is whether dispersed continental domains are merely rearranged by local plate forces, or whether connected continental states are also selected in a reduced topological organization space. This paper formulates a bounded answer. Geological states are first restricted to a hard feasible set imposed by plate kinematics, spherical geometry, lithospheric contacts, subduction organization, inherited weaknesses, and mantle mobility. Valid states are then projected to five topology-state coordinates, ξ = (Nfrag, Bexp, Drift, Kcont, Icoh), representing continental fragmentation, exposed or unsutured boundary cost, rift-defect cost, long-range connectivity, and aggregate coherence. The proposed organization potential is Ftop = aNfrag + bBexp + cDrift − λeff (dKcont + eIcoh), (1) and the force-like object is the projected gradient −Mξ ∇ξ Ftop, not a new local body force in the mantle. The available evidence is then analyzed in three layers. First, established geological evidence supports Wilson-cycle ocean opening and closure and supercontinent assembly, especially for Pangaea. Second, archived anisotropic-block simulations from the existing project show strong internal support for the…
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