Paleomagnetic evidence for counterclockwise block rotation in the north Nevada rift region

Journal Article · Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1990 · Geology; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1990)018<0079:PEFCBR>2.3.CO;2· OSTI ID:6357694

Li, Yianping; Nur, A ^[1]; Geissman, J W; Huang, Qing ^[2]; Ron, H ^[3]

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1. Stanford Univ., CA (USA)
2. Univ. of New Mexico, Albuquerque (USA)
3. Institute for Petroleum Research and Geophysics, Holon (Israel)

Paleomagnetic data from mid-Miocene dikes and flows at three localities within the north Nevada rift indicate that some crustal blocks have rotated approximately 19{degree} ({plus minus}7{degree}) counterclockwise relative to stable North America. As one possible consequence, a revised mid-Miocene extension direction for the area is about N89{degree}E-S89{degree}W, indicating an approximately 25{degree} difference between mid-Miocene and modern least principal stress directions. The rotation may be accommodated by a right-lateral component of slip on northwest-trending oblique slip faults. These, as well as data from other parts of the Basin and Range province, indicate that strike-slip faulting and associated block rotation contributed to Cenozoic extension.

• OSTI ID: 6357694
• Journal Information: Geology; (USA), Vol. 18:1; ISSN 0091-7613
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

58 GEOSCIENCES
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
PALEOMAGNETISM
TECTONICS
NEVADA
CONTINENTAL CRUST
DIKES
GEOLOGIC FAULTS
GEOMAGNETIC FIELD
LAVA
MIOCENE EPOCH
MOUNTAINS
RIFT ZONES
ROTATION
SEDIMENTARY BASINS
SLIP
CENOZOIC ERA
EARTH CRUST
FEDERAL REGION IX
GEOLOGIC AGES
GEOLOGIC FRACTURES
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETISM
MOTION
NORTH AMERICA
TERTIARY PERIOD
USA
580000* - Geosciences