Arc rifting of the Carolina terrane in northwestern South Carolina

Journal Article · Fri Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1991 · Geology; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1991)019<0226:AROTCT>2.3.CO;2· OSTI ID:5657286

Dennis, A J ^[1]; Shervais, J W ^[2]

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1. Univ. of South Carolina, Aiken (USA)
2. Univ. of South Carolina, Columbia (USA)

Recent mapping and whole-rock geochemistry studies demonstrate that mafic metavolcanic rocks found along the boundary between the exotic Carolina terrane and the Inner Piedmont formed in a subduction-related volcanic arc and do not represent the Iapetan suture. Mafic metavolcanic rocks are spatially and genetically related to zoned mafic-ultramafic intrusive complexes. These rocks are similar to those found in other ancient and modern volcanic island arcs where ankaramites and picrites are well known, and they are locally associated with zoned complexes, e.g., Sierra Foothills-Klamath Mountains of the western U.S. Cordillera. The authors propose that prior to accretion to Laurentia in the early to middle Paleozoic, the Carolina arc terrane underwent an episode of intra-arc rifting which allowed primitive arc magmas to ascend and erupt without significant crystal fractionation or lithospheric assimilation. This interpretation may help resolve some stratigraphic problems in the eastern part of the Carolina terrane (Caroline slate belt).

• OSTI ID: 5657286
• Journal Information: Geology; (USA), Vol. 19:3; ISSN 0091-7613
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

58 GEOSCIENCES
SOUTH CAROLINA
VOLCANIC REGIONS
ORIGIN
BOUNDARY CONDITIONS
GEOCHEMISTRY
GEOLOGIC HISTORY
GEOLOGIC MODELS
MAGMA
MAPPING
PALEOZOIC ERA
PETROLOGY
PLUTONIC ROCKS
RIFT ZONES
STRATIGRAPHY
SUBDUCTION ZONES
VOLCANIC ROCKS
CHEMISTRY
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
FEDERAL REGION IV
GEOLOGIC AGES
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
GEOLOGY
IGNEOUS ROCKS
NORTH AMERICA
ROCKS
USA
580000* - Geosciences