Pre-Mesozoic terranes and the tectonic framework of the Gulf Coastal Plain
- Univ. of Kentucky, Lexington, KY (United States). Dept. of Geological Sciences
Pre-Mesozoic rocks beneath the Gulf Coastal Plain reflect the late Precambrian (Pc)-Cambrian (Cb) rifted continental margin and the late Paleozoic Appalachian-Ouachita orogen (AOO). The AL promontory of Pc continental crust is bounded by a NW-striking transform margin (AL-OK transform) and a NE-striking rifted margin (southern Blue Ridge rift). Terrane accretion during the AOO differed markedly on the orthogonal adjacent sides of the AL promontory (ALp). Late Paleozoic compressional fabrics and terrane-boundary sutures, as well as extensional fabrics of the older rifted margin, influenced the geometry of Mesozoic extension and opening of the Gulf of Mexico. Along the SW side of the ALp, arc-continent collision resulted in accretion of an arc and subduction complex onto the margin of N American crust. The Ouachita allochthon includes off-shelf passive-margin rocks in an accretionary prism and synorogenic turbidites that represent a forearc basin and trench. Carbonate-shelf strata of the N American passive margin remained in place beneath the Ouachita allochthon. Along the southeast side of the ALp, passive-margin carbonate-shelf rocks are imbricated in the Appalachian thrust belt and bordered by an internal metamorphic belt of accreted terranes; both are underlain by relatively shallow Pc basement. The SE-dipping Suwannee-Wiggins suture terminates the shallow continental crust, truncates previously accreted terranes, and forms the boundary between N America and the Suwannee terrane. Mesozoic extensional structures include NE-and NW-striking fault systems. A NE-striking Triassic graben overlies the Suwannee-Wiggins suture, suggesting that Mesozoic extension used the Late Paleozoic compressional fabric of the suture. A NW-striking system of Triassic fault-bounded basins coincides with the trace of the Cb AL-OK transform fault, suggesting that the older crustal boundary controlled the location of a Mesozoic transform/transfer fault system.
- OSTI ID:
- 6077511
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9304188-; CODEN: GAAPBC
- Journal Information:
- Geological Society of America, Abstracts with Programs; (United States), Vol. 25:4; Conference: 42. annual Geological Society of America (GSA) Southeastern Section meeting, Tallahassee, FL (United States), 1-2 Apr 1993; ISSN 0016-7592
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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