Accretion of southern Alaska

Tectonophysics
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Abstract

Paleomagnetic data from southern Alaska indicate that the Wrangellia and Peninsular terranes collided with central Alaska probably by 65 Ma ago and certainly no later than 55 Ma ago. The accretion of these terranes to the mainland was followed by the arrival of the Ghost Rocks volcanic assemblage at the southern margin of Kodiak Island. Poleward movement of these terranes can be explained by rapid motion of the Kula oceanic plate, mainly from 85 to 43 Ma ago, according to recent reconstructions derived from the hot-spot reference frame. After accretion, much of southwestern Alaska underwent a counterclockwise rotation of about 50 ?? as indicated by paleomagnetic poles from volcanic rocks of Late Cretaceous and Early Tertiary age. Compression between North America and Asia during opening of the North Atlantic (68-44 Ma ago) may account for the rotation. 

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Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Accretion of southern Alaska
Series title Tectonophysics
DOI 10.1016/0040-1951(87)90200-9
Volume 139
Issue 1-2
Year Published 1987
Language English
Publisher Elsevier
Description 16 p.
First page 107
Last page 122
Country United States
State Alaska
Other Geospatial southern Alaska
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