Tectonic development of Columbia Plateau
Conference
·
· AAPG (Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol.) Bull.; (United States)
OSTI ID:5831999
The Columbia Plateau can be subdivided into two structural subprovinces: the Palouse, characterized by the Blue Mountain anticlinorium, and the Yakima foldbelt, characterized by generally narrow, asymmetric (faulted) anticlinal ridges separated by broad basins. The tectonic features of the Columbia Plateau result from (1) north-south compression during and following the emplacement of the Columbia River Basalt (CRB); (2) the subsidence of the Yakima foldbelt subprovince relative to a stable Palouse subprovince; (3) the growth of the Yakima folds superimposed on a subsiding basin; (4) the growth of major northwest-trending strike-slip faults on the western side of the plateau; and (5) the influence of regional structures that trend into the Columbia Plateau. Subsidence of the Yakima foldbelt subprovince began prior to the eruption of the CRB and has continued from the Miocene to the present. The rate of subsidence kept pace with CRB emplacement, decreasing as eruption rates waned. Simultaneously, anticlinal fold growth within the Yakima foldbelt occurred under north-south compression, and decreased as the rate of subsidence and CRB eruptions declined. Paleomagnetic data indicate fold growth was accompanied by a component of clockwise rotation that occurred on a local scale and only in anticlines. The development of these tectonic features is consistent with oblique subduction along a converging plate margin.
- Research Organization:
- Rockwell International, Richland, WA
- OSTI ID:
- 5831999
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-870915-
- Conference Information:
- Journal Name: AAPG (Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol.) Bull.; (United States) Journal Volume: 71:8
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Late Cenozoic structure and stratigraphy of south-central Washington
Structural geometry, strain distribution, and mechanical evolution of eastern Umtanum Ridge and a comparison with other selected localities within Yakima fold structures, south-central Washington
Structural origin and evolution of Mississippi fan foldbelt, Gulf of Mexico
Technical Report
·
Wed Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1993
·
OSTI ID:10193734
Structural geometry, strain distribution, and mechanical evolution of eastern Umtanum Ridge and a comparison with other selected localities within Yakima fold structures, south-central Washington
Technical Report
·
Thu Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1981
·
OSTI ID:5291503
Structural origin and evolution of Mississippi fan foldbelt, Gulf of Mexico
Conference
·
Tue Feb 28 23:00:00 EST 1989
· AAPG Bull.; (United States)
·
OSTI ID:6016567
Related Subjects
58 GEOSCIENCES
580201* -- Geophysics-- Seismology & Tectonics-- (1980-1989)
ANTICLINES
BASALT
CENOZOIC ERA
FEDERAL REGION X
GEOLOGIC AGES
GEOLOGIC FAULTS
GEOLOGIC FRACTURES
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
IGNEOUS ROCKS
NORTH AMERICA
OREGON
ROCKS
SEDIMENTARY BASINS
TECTONICS
TERTIARY PERIOD
USA
VOLCANIC ROCKS
WASHINGTON
580201* -- Geophysics-- Seismology & Tectonics-- (1980-1989)
ANTICLINES
BASALT
CENOZOIC ERA
FEDERAL REGION X
GEOLOGIC AGES
GEOLOGIC FAULTS
GEOLOGIC FRACTURES
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
IGNEOUS ROCKS
NORTH AMERICA
OREGON
ROCKS
SEDIMENTARY BASINS
TECTONICS
TERTIARY PERIOD
USA
VOLCANIC ROCKS
WASHINGTON