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 · Sun Mar 31 23:00:00 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), Journal Name: Geology; (USA) Vol. 19:4; ISSN GLGYB; ISSN 0091-7613
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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