Pleistocene Colorado River terraces in the canyonlands region (Utah, USA) record unsteady, transient incision and growth of the Cataract Canyon knickzone by salt tectonics

Tanski, Natalie M.; Pederson, Joel L.; Rittenour, Tammy M.; Hidy, Alan J.

doi:10.1130/g51599.1

Title: Pleistocene Colorado River terraces in the canyonlands region (Utah, USA) record unsteady, transient incision and growth of the Cataract Canyon knickzone by salt tectonics

Journal Article · 19 November 2023 · Geology

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1130/g51599.1 · OSTI ID:2217421

Tanski, Natalie M. ^[1]; Pederson, Joel L. ^[1]; Rittenour, Tammy M. ^[1]; Hidy, Alan J. ^[2]

Utah State University, Logan, UT (United States)
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)

Colorado River terraces in the canyonlands region of southeastern Utah can be dated and analyzed to address the controls of incision and nature of the Colorado Plateau's largest channel-steepness anomaly, Cataract Canyon. Field correlations supported by luminescence and cosmogenic-nuclide ages on strath terraces along Meander Canyon, upstream of Cataract Canyon, reveal a complex record of unsteady incision over the past ~340 k.y. at an average rate of ~0.4 mm/yr. Both an upstream progression of rapid incision and a unique sigmoidal long-profile pattern of terraces indicate incision in response to episodic baselevel fall. Also, terraces converge downstream with the anomalously low-gradient modern channel above Cataract Canyon. Here we interpret these results as indicating that growth of the Cataract Canyon knickzone is due to an erosion-salt tectonics feedback since at least the Mid Pleistocene, which has imparted unsteady, and currently elevated, local baselevel. More broadly, the canyonlands region is marked by rapid and unsteady incision that is complicated by local geologic controls even while being absent of any regional or mantle-driven uplift.

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Research Organization:: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA); Utah State University; USDOE Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) Program; Geological Society of America; Rocky Mountain Section of the Society for Sedimentary Geology; Four Corners Geological Society; Colorado Scientific Society

Grant/Contract Number:: AC52-07NA27344

OSTI ID:: 2217421

Report Number(s):: LLNL--JRNL-837179; 1056952

Journal Information:: Geology, Journal Name: Geology Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 52; ISSN 0091-7613

Publisher:: Geological Society of AmericaCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Title: Pleistocene Colorado River terraces in the canyonlands region (Utah, USA) record unsteady, transient incision and growth of the Cataract Canyon knickzone by salt tectonics

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