Lower Jurassic unconformity (J-O) from the Colorado Plateau to the eastern Mojave Desert: evidence of a major tectonic event at the close of the Triassic

Journal Article · Mon Apr 01 00:00:00 EST 1991 · Geology; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1991)019<0320:LJUJFT>2.3.CO;2· OSTI ID:5524212

Marzolf, J E ^[1]

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1. Southern Illinois Univ., Carbondale (USA)

From southern Nevada to the eastern Mojave Desert, the Lower Jurassic basal unconformity (J-0) cuts down section from the Upper Triassic Chinle Formation to deformed Paleozoic carbonate rocks. The Chinle Formation is not present southwest of the central Spring Mountians. Stratigraphic relations suggest correlation of J-0 with unconformities in western Arizona and the Inyo Mountains. Close proximity of J-0 in time and space to (1) first appearance of western-derived volcanic clasts in lower Mesozoic cratonal stratigraphy, (2) early Mesozoic thrust faults, and (3) the J-1 cusp in the apparent polar wander path imply a major change in tetonic setting of the southwestern Cordillera at the Triassic/Jurassic boundary.

• OSTI ID: 5524212
• Journal Information: Geology; (USA), Vol. 19:4; ISSN 0091-7613
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

58 GEOSCIENCES
CALIFORNIA
GEOLOGIC FORMATIONS
TECTONICS
NEVADA
ARIZONA
CARBONATE ROCKS
COLORADO
CORRELATIONS
DEFORMATION
DESERTS
GEOLOGIC FAULTS
GEOLOGIC HISTORY
GEOLOGY
JURASSIC PERIOD
MESOZOIC ERA
STRATIGRAPHY
ARID LANDS
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
FEDERAL REGION IX
FEDERAL REGION VIII
GEOLOGIC AGES
GEOLOGIC FRACTURES
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
NORTH AMERICA
ROCKS
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
USA
580000* - Geosciences