Post-Laramide (Oligocene) uplift in the Wind River Range, Wyoming

Journal Article · Sat Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1988 · Geology; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1989)017<0038:PLOUIT>2.3.CO;2· OSTI ID:7242873

Steidtmann, J R ^[1]; Middleton, L T ^[2]; Shuster, M W ^[3]

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1. Univ. of Wyoming, Laramie (USA)
2. Northern Arizona Univ., Flagstaff (USA)
3. Shell Development Company, Houston, TX (USA)

In late Oligocene time, the crest of the Wind River Range was uplifted from an erosion surface that formed during Laramide (Late Cretaceous-early Eocene) deformation. This uplift created the highest peaks in the Wyoming foreland and is indicated by rejuvenation of the range as a sediment source and by the physiography of the peaks. Differential movement of basement blocks in the core of the range is identified by apatite fission-track data. The authors distinguish this deformation from earlier Laramide compression and Neogene normal faulting and speculate that it occurred when Precambrian shear zones were reactivated in response to local flexural stress in the Laramide subsidence-uplift couple.

• OSTI ID: 7242873
• Journal Information: Geology; (USA), Journal Name: Geology; (USA) Vol. 17:1; ISSN GLGYB; ISSN 0091-7613
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

58 GEOSCIENCES
580000* -- Geosciences
BASEMENT ROCK
EROSION
FEDERAL REGION VIII
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGIC FAULTS
GEOLOGIC FRACTURES
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
GROUND UPLIFT
MOUNTAINS
NORTH AMERICA
ORIGIN
OROGENESIS
ROCKS
ROCKY MOUNTAINS
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
STRATA MOVEMENT
TECTONICS
USA
WESTERN US OVERTHRUST BELT
WYOMING