Neoproterozoic to Early Cambrian clastics sedimentation and stratigraphy in the Central and Southern Appalachians: An overview
- Washington and Lee Univ., Lexington, VA (United States). Dept. of Geology
A clear understanding of paleogeography, tectonics, and sedimentary framework now exists for Neoproterozoic to Early Cambrian clastics in the Central and Southern Appalachians. It is based on well-constrained data on mineralogy, texture, and sedimentary structures and less precise information on age and regional variations in lithology and thickness. From 900 m.y. ago until 600 m.y. ago, tension along the eastern edge of North America produced a series of NE-SW basins (grabens and aulacogens ). These rift-related basins filled with thick, coarse, arkosic clastics (Mechum River Fm., Mt. Rogers Volc. Gp., Grandfather Mtn. Fm., portions of the Ocoee Series) mimicking the setting that later typified the Triassic of eastern North America. Coeval sequences exposed along the southeastern edge of the Blue Ridge in Va. and N.C. (Fauquier Fm., Lynchburg Gp., Ashe Fm.) define the hinge zone of a developing continental margin. Farther south in Tenn., Ga., and Ala., the picture is less clear. In latest Precambrian and Early Cambrian time, a passive Atlantic-type'' margin existed. This consisted of paired continental shelf and continental slope-rise areas (shallow water deposits of the Chilhowee Gp. and overlying muds and carbonates to the northwest; deep water clastics of the Evington Gp. and Alligator Back Fm. to the southeast). The cohesiveness of this framework argues against these tectonostratigraphic belts being considered terranes.
- OSTI ID:
- 6111846
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9304188-; CODEN: GAAPBC
- Journal Information:
- Geological Society of America, Abstracts with Programs; (United States), Vol. 25:4; Conference: 42. annual Geological Society of America (GSA) Southeastern Section meeting, Tallahassee, FL (United States), 1-2 Apr 1993; ISSN 0016-7592
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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