Comparisons of key petrotectonic indicators for plate tectonics and timings of major glacial episodes (vertical blue regions, after Cox et al., 2016) spanning the last 3 byrs. a) Kimberlites provide evidence of mantle ingassing due to subduction (Stern et al., 2016). b) Ophiolites provide evidence of seafloor spreading and horizontal motions consistent with plate tectonics (Stern, Leybourne, & Tsujimori, 2017; modified by Palaeoproterozoic ophiolites from Condie, in press). c) Indicators of subduction zone metamorphism — blueschists, glaucophane‐bearing eclogites, lawsonite‐bearing metamorphic rocks and jadetites — form only in the cool, fluid‐rich environments in and above subduction zones (Stern, Tsujimori, Harlow, & Groat, 2013). d) Ultra‐high pressure metamorphic rocks and the gemstone ruby proxy continental collision and deep subduction of continental crust (Stern et al., 2017). e) Seawater 87Sr/86Sr and δ34S of carbonate rocks, and timing of giant P sedimentary deposits (after Shields, 2007). Note the rapid rise in 87Sr/86Sr during Neoproterozoic time, from ~0.705 to ~0.709, indicating enhanced continental input. f) Seawater δ13C curve. Curve > 900 Ma digitized from Young (2013, Figure 1), the 2600–1600 Ma portion follows Melezhik, Roberts, Fallick, Gorokhov, and Kuznetsov (2005); the 1600–920 Ma portion follows Kah (2004). The 540–920 Ma portion follows Cox et al. (2016), including LIPs; Neoproterozoic C‐isotope excursions B, I, T, Tr and S denote Bitter Springs, Islay, Tayshir, Trezona and Shuram anomalies, respectively. The Phanerozoic portion follows Shields and Mills (2017); note this is a smooth of the composite curve. g) Sedimentary phosphorite abundance as represented by deposits (Planavsky, 2014) [Colour figure can be viewed at wileyonlinelibrary.com]