Early history of the Michigan basin: Subsidence and Appalachian tectonics

Journal Article · Sat Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1990 · Geology; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1990)018<1195:EHOTMB>2.3.CO;2· OSTI ID:5796686

Howell, P D; van der Pluijm, B A ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor (USA)

Geometries of Cambrian to Silurian stratigraphic sequences in the Michigan basin record discrete episodes of basin-centered subsidence separated by periods of regional tilting. Backstripping reveals irregular subsidence rates that argue against a simple thermal contraction model. Depositional facies architecture also reflects episodic subsidence patterns, basin-centered facies tracts dominating during subsidence reactivations. These three lines of evidence indicate that subsidence cessations and reactivations characterize the early history of the Michigan basin. Periods of episodic subsidence correlate temporally with orogenic events in the Appalachians, suggesting that reactivation of basin subsidence is related to tectonic activity. The authors propose that Appalachian orogenic activity caused the episodic subsidence of the Michigan basin, possibly through weakening of the lower crust and reactivation of a preexisting upper-crustal isotatic imbalance.

• OSTI ID: 5796686
• Journal Information: Geology; (USA), Vol. 18:12; ISSN 0091-7613
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

58 GEOSCIENCES
APPALACHIAN MOUNTAINS
OROGENESIS
MICHIGAN
SEDIMENTARY BASINS
GROUND SUBSIDENCE
CAMBRIAN PERIOD
CONTINENTAL CRUST
CORRELATIONS
DEPOSITION
GEOLOGIC HISTORY
GEOLOGIC MODELS
SILURIAN PERIOD
STRATIGRAPHY
TECTONICS
EARTH CRUST
FEDERAL REGION V
GEOLOGIC AGES
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
GEOLOGY
MOUNTAINS
NORTH AMERICA
PALEOZOIC ERA
USA
580000* - Geosciences