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Title: Lineaments and their tectonic implications in Rocky Mountains and adjacent plains region

Abstract

Two orthogonal sets of lineaments in Phanerozoic rocks of the Rocky Mountains and adjacent plains region probably reflect recurrent structural movement along corresponding fractures in the underlying igneous and metamorphic rocks. The lineaments seem to have been primarily paleotopographic features that affected the depositional and erosional margins, thicknesses, and the distribution of lithofacies of Phanerozoic strata. At small scales, the crosscutting lineaments of either set suggest primarily vertical movements of rectangular blocks along through-going rectilinear fractures in the basement rocks. At larger scales, the differential movement of these blocks apparently was propagated upward through the strata and formed a variety of structures, many of which are en echelon. Blocks in the region moved at different times, and they commonly rotated about horizontal axes, as indicated by lateral differences in rates of associated sedimentation and by structural features along the lineaments. Throughout most of the Phanerozoic, the movements seem to have been mainly along the diagonal set (northeast, northwest) of lineaments, but the cardinal set (north-south, east-west) also influenced the development of Laramide structures and the present landscape in the Rocky Mountain region. The structural stresses, which were released along the two sets of lineaments, may reflect plate movements, and theymore » probably are related to orogenies caused either by plate collisions or by rifting and continental fragmentation.« less

Authors:
;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Geological Survey, Denver, CO
OSTI Identifier:
6404417
Report Number(s):
CONF-8309274-
Journal ID: CODEN: AAPGB
Resource Type:
Conference
Journal Name:
Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol., Bull.; (United States)
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 67:8; Conference: AAPG Rocky Mountain Section meeting, Billings, MT, USA, 18 Sep 1983
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
58 GEOSCIENCES; GEOLOGIC FAULTS; PLATE TECTONICS; GEOLOGIC FISSURES; ROCKY MOUNTAINS; EROSION; GEOMORPHOLOGY; OROGENESIS; SEDIMENTATION; GEOLOGIC FRACTURES; GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES; GEOLOGY; MOUNTAINS; TECTONICS; 580100* - Geology & Hydrology- (-1989)

Citation Formats

Maughan, E K, and Perry, Jr, W J. Lineaments and their tectonic implications in Rocky Mountains and adjacent plains region. United States: N. p., 1983. Web.
Maughan, E K, & Perry, Jr, W J. Lineaments and their tectonic implications in Rocky Mountains and adjacent plains region. United States.
Maughan, E K, and Perry, Jr, W J. 1983. "Lineaments and their tectonic implications in Rocky Mountains and adjacent plains region". United States.
@article{osti_6404417,
title = {Lineaments and their tectonic implications in Rocky Mountains and adjacent plains region},
author = {Maughan, E K and Perry, Jr, W J},
abstractNote = {Two orthogonal sets of lineaments in Phanerozoic rocks of the Rocky Mountains and adjacent plains region probably reflect recurrent structural movement along corresponding fractures in the underlying igneous and metamorphic rocks. The lineaments seem to have been primarily paleotopographic features that affected the depositional and erosional margins, thicknesses, and the distribution of lithofacies of Phanerozoic strata. At small scales, the crosscutting lineaments of either set suggest primarily vertical movements of rectangular blocks along through-going rectilinear fractures in the basement rocks. At larger scales, the differential movement of these blocks apparently was propagated upward through the strata and formed a variety of structures, many of which are en echelon. Blocks in the region moved at different times, and they commonly rotated about horizontal axes, as indicated by lateral differences in rates of associated sedimentation and by structural features along the lineaments. Throughout most of the Phanerozoic, the movements seem to have been mainly along the diagonal set (northeast, northwest) of lineaments, but the cardinal set (north-south, east-west) also influenced the development of Laramide structures and the present landscape in the Rocky Mountain region. The structural stresses, which were released along the two sets of lineaments, may reflect plate movements, and they probably are related to orogenies caused either by plate collisions or by rifting and continental fragmentation.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/6404417}, journal = {Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol., Bull.; (United States)},
number = ,
volume = 67:8,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1983},
month = {Mon Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1983}
}

Conference:
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