Geochemical constraints on mode of extension in the Death Valley region
- Univ. of Kansas, Lawrence (United States)
The petrographic, chemical, and isotopic characteristics of synex-tensional Miocene-Pliocene volcanic rocks of the Nova Formation Death Valley area, record interaction of three components. Two of these are ancient crust and enriched mantle; they have been recognized previously in the Basin and Range province. The third component is isotopically similar to rocks of the Sierra Nevada batholith exposed to the west of the study area. The authors interpret this source to be the mantle lithosphere and/or lower crust of the Sierra Nevada batholith that was emplaced beneath the Death Valley area by extensional deformation. This is consistent with 150 to 250 km of extension across the southern Basin and Range province inferred from other evidence, and supports the conclusions of workers who suggest that the dominant mode of crustal extension in this area is simple shear with large amounts of lateral lithospheric transport.
- OSTI ID:
- 5877805
- Journal Information:
- Geology; (United States), Journal Name: Geology; (United States) Vol. 19:10; ISSN GLGYB; ISSN 0091-7613
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
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Related Subjects
580000* -- Geosciences
CALIFORNIA
CENOZOIC ERA
CHEMISTRY
CONTINENTAL CRUST
CORRELATIONS
DEFORMATION
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
EARTH CRUST
EARTH MANTLE
GEOCHEMISTRY
GEOLOGIC AGES
GEOLOGIC FORMATIONS
IGNEOUS ROCKS
ISOTOPE RATIO
LIMITING VALUES
MIOCENE EPOCH
NORTH AMERICA
PETROGRAPHY
PLIOCENE EPOCH
ROCKS
SHEAR
TECTONICS
TERTIARY PERIOD
USA
VALLEYS
VOLCANIC ROCKS