Tertiary igneous chronology of the Great Basin of western United States — Implications for tectonic models
Bulletin of the Geological Society of America
By: Edwin H. McKee
Links
- More information: Publisher Index Page (via DOI)
- Download citation as: RIS | Dublin Core
Abstract
The chronology of igneous activity in the Great Basin of western United States is used as a time framework for a simple plate model. This chronology suggests that a plate (Farallon plate) became underthrust to sufficient depth by the middle Tertiary to trigger the eruption of volcanic rocks of andesitic to rhyolitic composition in the central part of the Great Basin, 40 m.y. ago. This plate continued to be underthrust until about 19 m.y. ago, at which time it was completely consumed and volcanic activity ceased. When the oceanic ridge reached a certain point under the Great Basin about 16 m.y. ago, this resulted in the widespread eruption of olivine basalt and the main initial phase of Basin and Range faulting.
Study Area
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Tertiary igneous chronology of the Great Basin of western United States — Implications for tectonic models |
| Series title | Bulletin of the Geological Society of America |
| DOI | 10.1130/0016-7606(1971)82[3497:TICOTG]2.0.CO;2 |
| Volume | 82 |
| Issue | 12 |
| Year Published | 1971 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Geological Society of America |
| Description | 5 p. |
| First page | 3497 |
| Last page | 3501 |
| Country | United States |
| State | Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah |
| Other Geospatial | Great Basin |
| Google Analytic Metrics | Metrics page |