Rate of deformation in the Pasco Basin during the Miocene as determined by distribution of Columbia River basalt flows
Detailed mapping of over 8000 square kilometers and logs from 20 core holes were used to determine the distribution and thickness of basalt flows and interbeds in the Pasco Basin. The data indicate the high-MgO Grande Ronde Basalt and Wanapum Basalt thicken from the northeast to the southwest. Deformation began in late Frenchman Springs time in the Saddle Mountains along a northwest-southeast trend and in Roza time along an east-west trend. By late Wanapum time, basalt flows were more restricted on the east side. Saddle Mountains Basalt flows spread out in the basin from narrow channels to the east. The Umatilla Member entered from the southeast and is confined to the south-central basin, while the Wilbur Creek, Asotin, Esquatzel, Pomona, and Elephant Mountain Members entered from the east and northeast. The distribution of these members is controlled by flow volume, boundaries of other flows, and developing ridges. The Wilbur Creek, Asotin, and Esquatzel flows exited from the basin in a channel along the northern margin of the Umatilla flow, while the Pomona and Elephant Mountain flows exited between Umtanum Ridge and Wallula Gap. The thickness of sedimentary interbeds and basalt flows indicated subsidence and/or uplift began in post-Grande Ronde time (14.5 million years before present) and continued through Saddle Mountains time (10.5 million years before present). Maximum subsidence occurred 40 kilometers (24 miles) north of Richland, Washington with an approximate rate of 25 meters (81 feet) per million years during the eruption of the basalt. Maximum uplift along the developing ridges was 70 meters (230 feet) per million years.
- Research Organization:
- Rockwell International Corp., Richland, WA (USA). Rockwell Hanford Operations
- DOE Contract Number:
- EY-77-C-06-1030
- OSTI ID:
- 5529539
- Report Number(s):
- RHO-BWI-SA-29; CONF-800342-1; TRN: 80-007401
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 76. annual meeting Cordilleran Section Geological Society of America, Corvallis, OR, USA, 19 Mar 1980
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
BASALT
FLOW RATE
COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN
TECTONICS
BOREHOLES
DATA COMPILATION
DEFORMATION
DEPTH
DRILL CORES
GEOLOGY
GRAPHS
HANFORD RESERVATION
MAPS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION
TABLES
TERTIARY PERIOD
UNDERGROUND DISPOSAL
WASHINGTON
WELL LOGGING
CAVITIES
CENOZOIC ERA
DATA
DATA FORMS
DIMENSIONS
DISTRIBUTION
GEOLOGIC AGES
IGNEOUS ROCKS
INFORMATION
MANAGEMENT
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NORTH AMERICA
NUMERICAL DATA
PACIFIC NORTHWEST REGION
ROCKS
US DOE
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS
USA
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
052002* - Nuclear Fuels- Waste Disposal & Storage