Previous Readings, 2005 (most recent at bottom)

Readings for 24/26 August:

Required:

• Turcotte and Schubert, sections 10-3 and 10-4 (10-1 and 10-2 are helpful).
• Radiometric dating handout
• Reed, J. C., Jr., T. T. Ball, G. L. Farmer, and W. B. Hamilton, A broader view, in Precambrian: Conterminous U. S., The Geology of North America, vol. C-2, edited by J. C. Reed, Jr. and others, pp. 614-622 (Farmer's section), Geol. Soc. Amer., Boulder, Colo., 1993.

Relevant:

• Baldridge, Chapter 1
• Rämö, O. T., and J. P. Calzia, Nd isotopic composition of cratonic rocks in the southern Death Valley region; evidence for a substantial Archean source component in Mojavia, Geology, 26, (10), 891-894, 1998.
• Bennett, V. C., and D. J. DePaolo, Proterozoic crustal history of the western United States as determined by neodymium isotopic mapping, Geological Society of America Bulletin, 99 (5), 674-685, 1987

Readings for 31 August (possibly into 2 Sept)

Rifting of western U.S. in the latest Precambrian and backstripping:

Required:

• Turcotte and Schubert, sec. 4-15, 4-16, 4-23, 4-25, last is most relevant, earlier readings provide background. [An alternative that is more compact and comes from a more geologic point of view is in Stüwe's text, sections 6.1.3 & 6.1.4; this also includes a description of how backstripping works missing from Turcotte and Schubert]
• Bond, G. C., and M. A. Kominz, Construction of tectonic subsidence curves for the early Paleozoic miogeocline, southern Canadian Rocky Mountains; implications for subsidence mechanisms, age of breakup, and crustal thinning, Geological Society of America Bulletin, 95, (2), 155-173, 1984.

Additional Readings: (These deal with particular aspects of pC geology)

• Timmons, J. M., K. E. Karlstrom, C. M. Dehler, J. W. Geissman, and M. T. Heizler, Proterozoic multistage (ca. 1.1 and 0.8 Ga) extension recorded in the Grand Canyon Supergroup and establishment of northwest- and north-trending tectonic grains in the southwestern United States, Geol. Soc. Am. Bull., 113, 163-180, 2001.
• Levy, M., and N. Christie Blick, Tectonic subsidence of the early Paleozoic passive continental margin in eastern California and southern Nevada, Geological Society of America Bulletin, 103, (12), 1590-1606, 1991. [kind of Bond and Kominz for the southern Cordilleran miogeocline, but with some removal of later deformation].
• Fedo, C. M., and J. D. Cooper, Sedimentology and sequence stratigraphy of Neoproterozoic and Cambrian units across a craton-margin hinge zone, southeastern California, and implications for the early evolution of the Cordilleran margin, Sediment. Geol., 141, 501-522, 2001. [trying to reconcile all the datasets here]
• Bond, G. C., and M. A. Kominz, Evolution of Thought On Passive Continental Margins From the Origin of Geosynclinal Theory (Approximately 1860) to the Present, Geological Society of America Bulletin, 100, (12), 1909-1933, 1988.
• McKenzie, D., Some remarks on the development of sedimentary basins, Earth Plan. Sci. Letts., 40, 25-32, 1978. [where 1-D thermal subsidence was really first applied to sedimentary basins]

Readings for 9 September, Ancestral Rocky Mountains

Required:

• Dickinson, W. R., and T. F. Lawton, Sequential intercontinental suturing as the ultimate control for Pennsylvanian Ancestral Rocky Mountains deformation, Geology, 31, 609-612, 2003.Online at GSA
• Ye, H. Z., L. Royden, C. Burchfiel, and M. Schuepbach, Late Paleozoic deformation of interior North America: The greater Ancestral Rocky Mountains, Amer. Assoc. Petrol. Geol. Bull., 80, 1397-1432, 1996. [you'll want to try and hit the highlights and note the data upon which their interpretations are based] Most of the color plates are here as scanned images. (abstract only at GeoScienceWorld)
  • Kluth, C. F., Late Paleozoic deformation of interior North America: The Greater Ancestral Rocky Mountains: Discussion, Amer. Assoc. Petrol. Geol. Bull., 82, 2272-2276, 1998.
  • Ye, H. Z., L. Royden, C. Burchfiel, and M. Schuepbach, Late paleozoic deformation of interior North America: The Greater Ancestral Rocky Mountains: Reply, Amer. Assoc. Petrol. Geol. Bull., 82, 2277-2279, 1998.

Relevant:

Many of these are more detailed studies of specific areas or topics, or they provide different viewpoints we will try and explore in class. The first two are two very different interpretations of a key Ancestral Rockies basin. Kluth's paper was influential in trying to place this deformation in a plate tectonic context. The last three give some very different views of how to interpret this time frame.

• Ch. 5, Baldridge
• Barbeau, D. L., A flexural model for the Paradox Basin: implications for the tectonics of the Ancestral Rocky Mountains, Basin Res, 15, 97-115, 2003. Online (CU subscription)
• Stevenson, G. M., and D. L. Baars, The Paradox; a pull-apart basin of Pennsylvanian age, AAPG Memoir, 41, 513-539, 1986.
• Kluth, C. F., Plate tectonics of the ancestral Rocky Mountains, Amer. Assoc. Petr. Geol. Memoir, 41, 353-369, 1986.
  • Goldstein, A. G., C. F. Kluth, and P. J. Coney, Plate tectonics of the ancestral Rocky Mountains: Discussion and reply, Geology, 9, 387-389, 1981.
  • Warner, L. A., C. F. Kluth, and P. J. Coney, Plate tectonics of the ancestral Rocky Mountains: Discussion and reply, Geology, 11, 120-122, 1983.
• Johnson, S. Y., M. A. Chan, and E. A. Konopka, Pennsylvanian and Early Permian paleogeography of the Uinta­Piceance basin region, northwestern Colorado and northeastern Utah, U. S. Geol. Surv. Prof. Paper, 1787CC, 1-35, 1992.
• Marshak, S., K. Karlstrom, and J. M. Timmons, Inversion of Proterozoic extensional faults; an explanation for the pattern of Laramide and ancestral Rockies intracratonic deformation, United States, Geology (Boulder), 28, 735-738, 2000.
• Budnik, R. T., Left-lateral intraplate deformation along the ancestral Rocky Mountains: Implications for late Paleozoic plate motions, Tectonophysics, 132, 195-214, 1986.

Reading for 14 September, Plate flexure (Ancestral Rockies, Antler Orogeny)

• Turcotte and Schubert, sections 3-9, 3-13, 3-14, 3-16 to 3-18.
• I also have a handout of much of the same material that you might find helpful

Readings for 21 September: Antler orogeny readings

Required References: (These get you an overview of the main elements and controversies of the Antler Orogen)

• Burchfiel, B. C., and L. H. Royden, Antler Orogeny: A Mediterranean-type orogeny, Geology, 19, (1), 66-69, 1991.
• Smith, M. T., W. R. Dickinson, and G. E. Gehrels, Contractional Nature of Devonian-Mississippian Antler Tectonism Along the North-American Continental-Margin, Geology, 21, (1), 21-24, 1993.

Relevant References:

• Baldridge, sec. 4.3.
• Trexler, J.H., Cashman, P.H., Snyder, W.S., and Davydov, V.I., Late Paleozoic tectonism in Nevada: Timing, kinematics, and tectonic significance: Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 116, p. 525-538, 2004.
• Turner, R. J. W., R. J. Madrid, and E. L. Miller, Roberts Mountains allochthon: Stratigraphic comparison with Lower Paleozoic outer continental-margin strata of the northern Canadian Cordillera, Geology, 17, (4), 341-344, 1989.
  • Johnson, J. G., and M. A. Murphy, Roberts Mountains allochthon: Stratigraphic comparison with Lower Paleozoic outer continental-margin strata of the northern Canadian Cordillera - Comment, Geology, 17, (11), 1063, 1989.
  • Turner, R. J. W., R. J. Madrid, and E. L. Miller, Roberts Mountains allochthon: Stratigraphic comparison with Lower Paleozoic outer continental-margin strata of the northern Canadian Cordillera - Reply, Geology, 17, (11), 1063-1064, 1989.
• Giles, K. A., and W. R. Dickinson, The interplay of eustasy and lithospheric flexure in forming stratigraphic sequences in foreland settings: An example from the Antler foreland, Nevada and Utah, in Stratigraphic Evolution of Foreland Basins, SEPM Special Publication, vol. 52, edited by S. L. Dorobek and G. M. Ross, pp. 187-211, SEPM, Tulsa, Oklahoma, 1995. [We'll be examining the interpretation here and its flexural origin, but it is a long paper to really read].
• Gehrels, G. E., W. R. Dickinson, B. C. D. Riley, S. C. Finney, and M. T. Smith, Detrital zircon geochronology of the Roberts Mountains Allochthon, Nevada, in Paleozoic and Triassic paleogeography and tectonics of western Nevada and Northern California., edited by J. Soreghan Michael and E. Gehrels George, Geological Society of America (GSA). Boulder, Cololrado., 2000. [Zircon evidence that Roberts Mountain allochthon is not far travelled and not near volcanic arc]
• Silberling, N. J., K. M. Nichols, J. H. Trexler, Jr., P. W. Jewell, and R. A. Crosbie, Overview of Mississippian depositional and paleotectonic history in the Antler foreland, eastern Nevada and western Utah, Brigham Young Univ. Geol. Studies, 42 (1), 161-196, 1997. [road log is after p. 183; fieldtrip guide to 1997 GSA]
• Speed, R. C., and N. H. Sleep, Antler orogeny and foreland basin: A model, Geol. Soc. Am. Bull., 93, 815-828, 1982.
• Miller, E. L., M. M. Miller, C. H. Stevens, J. E. Wright, and R. Madrid, Late Paleozoic paleogeographic and tectonic evolution of the western U.S. Cordillera, in The Cordilleran Orogen: Conterminous U.S., The Geology of North America, vol. G-3, edited by B. C. Burchfiel, P. W. Lipman and M. L. Zoback, pp. 57-106, Geol. Soc. Amer., Boulder, Colo., 1992.

Readings for 28 September on the Sonoman Orogeny and Miogeoclinal Truncation

Required Reference

• Gehrels, G. E., W. R. Dickinson, B. J. Darby, J. P. Harding, J. D. Manuszak, B. C. D. Riley, M. S. Spurlin, S. C. Finney, G. H. Girty, D. S. Harwood, M. M. Miller, J. I. Satterfield, M. T. Smith, W. S. Snyder, E. T. Wallin, and S. J. Wyld, Tectonic implications of detrital zircon data from Paleozoic and Triassic strata in western Nevada and Northern California, in Paleozoic and Triassic paleogeography and tectonics of western Nevada and Northern California., Special Paper - Geological Society of America, vol. 347, edited by J. Soreghan Michael and E. Gehrels George, pp. 133-150, Geological Society of America, Boulder, Colorado, 2000.

Relevant References:

• Baldridge, sec. 5.7
• Gehrels, G. E., Introduction to detrital zircon studies of Paleozoic and Triassic strata in western Nevada and Northern California, in Paleozoic and Triassic paleogeography and tectonics of western Nevada and Northern California., Special Paper - Geological Society of America, vol. 347, edited by J. Soreghan Michael and E. Gehrels George, pp. 1-17, Geological Society of America (GSA), Boulder, Colorado, 2000. [this is the how-to paper]
• Stevens, C. H., P. Stone, G. C. Dunne, D. C. Greene, J. D. Walker, and B. J. Swanson, Paleozoic and Mesozoic evolution of East-central California, in Integrated Earth and Environmental Evolution of the Southwestern United States, edited by W.G. Ernst and C. A. Nelson, pp. 119-160, Bellweather Publ., Columbia Maryland, 1998. [there is a lot here--might pick and choose, noting info on truncation especially].
• Wyld, S. J., Permo-Triassic Tectonism in Volcanic Arc Sequences of the Western United States Cordillera and Implications For the Sonoma Orogeny, Tectonics, 10, 1007-1017, 1991.
• Gehrels, G. E., and J. H. Stewart, Detrital zircon U-Pb geochronology of Cambrian to Triassic miogeoclinal and eugeoclinal strata of Sonora, Mexico, Journal of Geophysical Research-Solid Earth, 103, 2471-2487, 1998. [attempts to determine if the miogeocline to the SW of Death Valley was removed to the SSE]
• Miller, E. L., M. M. Miller, C. H. Stevens, J. E. Wright, and R. Madrid, Late Paleozoic paleogeographic and tectonic evolution of the western U.S. Cordillera, in The Cordilleran Orogen: Conterminous U.S., The Geology of North America, vol. G-3, edited by B. C. Burchfiel, P. W. Lipman and M. L. Zoback, pp. 57-106, Geol. Soc. Amer., Boulder, Colo., 1992. [overview of many issues on Somona and Antler orogenies].
• Roback, R. C., and N. W. Walker, Provenance, Detrital Zircon U-Pb Geochronometry, and Tectonic Significance of Permian to Lower Triassic Sandstone in Southeastern Quesnellia, British-Columbia and Washington, Geological Society of America Bulletin, 107, 665-675, 1995. [considers the position of Quesnellia, somewhat equivalent to the Klamaths/northern Sierra but in southern Canada, northern Washington; its attachment to North America might be equivalent of Sonoman orogeny to north].

Additional references on Permian truncation vs. shortening

• Snow, J. K., Large-magnitude Permian shortening and continental margin tectonics in the southern Cordillera, Geol. Soc. Am. Bull., 104, 80-105, 1992.
• Stone, P., and C. H. Stevens, Large-magnitude Permian shortening and continental-margin tectonics in the southern Cordillera: Discussion, Geol. Soc. Am. Bull., 105, 279-280, 1993.
• Snow, J. K., and B. Wernicke, Large-magnitude Permian shortening and continental-margin tectonics in the southern Cordillera: Reply, Geol. Soc. Am. Bull., 105, 280-283, 1993.

Reading for 7 October on critical wedges and the Sevier orogen:

Required Readings:

• Jordan, T. E., Thrust loads and foreland basin evolution, Cretaceous, western United States, Am. Assoc. Petrol. Geol. Bull., 65, 2506-2520, 1981.
• DeCelles, P. G., and G. Mitra, History of the Sevier orogenic wedge in terms of critical taper models, Northeast Utah and Southwest Wyoming, Geological Society of America Bulletin, 107, 454-462, 1995. [more direct than DeCelles '94 in considering how sediments work with Coulomb/critical wedge, but geology is in the DeCelles '94 paper]

In addition to the handout, the physics of a Coulomb (critical-taper wedge is covered in Stüwe's text, pp. 294-298, and in Turcotte and Schubert, section 8-6, pp. 347-350)

Additional references:

Sevier Orogeny

• Baldridge, sec 6-6, 7-1, 7-2.
• DeCelles, P. G., Late Jurassic to Eocene evolution of the Cordilleran thrust belt and foreland basin system, western USA, Am. J. Sci., 304 (2), 105-168, 2004. (from Am. J Sci website)
• Allmendinger, R. W., Fold and thrust tectonics of the western United States exclusive of the accreted terranes, in The Cordilleran Orogen: Conterminous U.S., The Geology of North America, vol. G-3, edited by B. C. Burchfiel, P. W. Lipman and M. L. Zoback, pp. 583-607, Geol. Soc. Amer., Boulder, Colorado, 1992.
• DeCelles, P. G., Late Cretaceous-Paleocene synorogenic sedimentation and kinematic history of the Sevier thrust belt, northeast Utah and southwest Wyoming, Geological Society of America Bulletin, 106, 32-56, 1994.
• Lageson, D. R., J. G. Schmitt, B. K. Horton, T. J. Kalakay, and B. R. Burton, Influence of Late Cretaceous magmatism on the Sevier orogenic wedge, western Montana, Geology, 29, 723-726, 2001.

Critical taper/Coulomb wedge theory:

• Moores, E. M., and R. J. Twiss, Tectonics, pp. 174-178 (also Fig. 7.27), W. H. Freeman & Co., New York, 1995. [the Cliff Notes version]
• Davis, D., J. Suppe, and F. A. Dahlen, Mechanics of fold-and-thrust belts and accretionary wedges: Cohesive Coulomb theory, Journal of Geophysical Research, 88, 1153-1172, 1983. [where this started]
• Barr, T. D., and F. A. Dahlen, Brittle frictional mountain building .2. Thermal structure and heat budget, J. Geophys. Res., 94, 3923-3947, 1989.
• Dahlen, F. A., and T. D. Barr, Brittle Frictional Mountain Building .1. Deformation and Mechanical Energy Budget, J. Geophys. Res., 94, 3906-3922, 1989.

Readings for 30 September and beyond on Exotic Terranes and Paleomagnetism

Exotic terranes have been one of the most thoroughly discussed aspects of Cordilleran geology in the wake of plate tectonics; the extent of even the recent literature is only hinted at in the collection below. In additional reading, I have included a fair number of other papers that provide insight on various aspects of these problem. Rather than pare things to only one or two papers, I thought pointing you towards a range of perspectives would be worthwhile.

Required Readings:

• Paleomagnetism handout
• Kim, B.Y., and Kodama, K.P., 2004, A compaction correction for the paleomagnetism of the Nanaimo Group sedimentary rocks: Implications for the Baja British Columbia hypothesis: Journal of Geophysical Research-Solid Earth, v. 109, doi:10.1029/2003JB002696.(article online at AGU) [paper copy not in folder]
• Housen, B. A., and M. E. Beck, Jr., Testing terrane transport; an inclusive approach to the Baja B.C. controversy, Geology (Boulder), 27, 1143-1146, 1999. [the large-displacement Baja-BC exponents] (At GeoScienceWorld)
• Butler, R. F., G. E. Gehrels, and K. P. Kodama, A moderate translation alternative to the Baja British Columbia hypothesis, GSA Today, 11, 4-10, 2001. [sort of anti Baja-BC camp; a later JGR article presents their geochronologic and paleomagnetic data] (From GSA's website)

Plate reconstructions and terranes:

• Debiche, M. G., A. Cox, and D. Engebretson, The Motion of Allochthonous Terranes, Special Paper Geological Society of America, 207, 1-49, 1985. [this continues to be cited although the plate reconstruction underneath it is probably in error]
• Engebretson, D. C., A. Cox, and R. G. Gordon, Relative motions between oceanic and continental plates in the Pacific Basin, Special Paper Geological Society of America, 206, 1-59, 1985.
• Wilson, K. M., W. W. Hay, and C. N. Wold, Mesozoic evolution of exotic terranes and marginal seas, western North America, Marine Geology, 102, 311-361, 1991. [This is Bill Hay's very alternative view to the western U.S., with numerous arcs, marginal seas, and subduction zones]
• Gabrielse, H., J. W. H. Monger, J. O. Wheeler, and C. J. Yorath, Part A, Morphogeological belts, tectonic assemblages, and terranes, in Chapter 2 of Geology of the Cordilleran Orogen in Canada, Geology of Canada, v. 4, edited by H. Gabrielse and C. J. Yorath, pp. 15-28, Geol. Surv. Canada, 1991. [also called The Geology of North America, vol. G-2]. [Note that the plates with this volume are quite useful in understanding the basis for terrane mapping].
• Carter, E. S., M. J. Orchard, C. A. Ross, J. R. P. Ross, P. L. Smith, and H. W. Tipper, Part B, Paleontological signatures of terranes, in Chapter 2 of Geology of the Cordilleran Orogen in Canada, Geology of Canada, v. 4, edited by H. Gabrielse and C. J. Yorath, pp. 28-38, Geol. Surv. Canada, 1991. [also called The Geology of North America, vol. G-2; note this is after Gabrielse paper, above]

Northward motion of Coastal California:

• Dickinson, W. R., and R. F. Butler, Coastal and Baja California paleomagnetism reconsidered, Geol. Soc. Am. Bull., 110, 1268-1280, 1998.
• Beck, M. E., Jr., Case for northward transport of Baja and coastal Southern California; paleomagnetic data, analysis, and alternatives, Geology, 19, 506-509, 1991.
• Gastil, G., Is there a Oaxaca-California megashear? Conflict between paleomagnetic data and other elements of geology, Geology, 19 (5), 502-505, 1991.

Baja-British Columbia controversy (a sampling):

• Enkin, R. J., J. B. Mahoney, J. Baker, J. Riesterer, and M. L. Haskin, Deciphering shallow paleomagnetic inclinations: 2. Implications from Late Cretaceous strata overlapping the Insular/Intermontane Superterrane boundary in the southern Canadian Cordillera, J. Geophys. Res., 108, DOI: 10.1029/2002JB001983, 2003. [Gives an idea of all kinds of tests possible in paleomagnetic work, and presents an even more extreme option on Baja B.C.] (At JGR site)
• Irving, E., P. J. Wynne, D. J. Thorkelson, and P. Schiarizza, Large (1000 to 4000 km) northward movements of tectonic domains in the northern Cordillera, 83 to 45 Ma, Journal of Geophysical Research-Solid Earth, 101, 17901-17916, 1996. [rather thorough compendium of large-displacement paleomag] (at JGR site)
• Monger, J. W. H., R. A. Price, P. J. Wynne, D. J. Thorkelson, K. L. Kleinspehn, J. A. Maxson, and E. Irving, Paleomagnetism of the Upper Cretaceous strata of Mount Tatlow; evidence for 3000 km of northward displacement of the eastern Coast Belt, British Columbia and on Paleomagnetism of the Spences Bridge Group and northward displacement of the Intermontane Belt, British Columbia; a second look; discussion and reply, Journal of Geophysical Research, B, Solid Earth and Planets, 101, 13,793-13803, 1996. [rather related to the above paper even though it is commenting on two others]
• Cowan, D. S., M. T. Brandon, and J. I. Garver, Geologic tests of hypotheses for large coastwise displacements - A critique illustrated by the Baja British Columbia controversy, American Journal of Science, 297, 117-173, 1997. pdf at Am J Sci site [this was something of a broadside response to the restatement of large-magnitude displacement from the paleomag folks].
• Dickinson, W. R., and R. F. Butler, Coastal and Baja California paleomagnetism reconsidered, Geological Society of America Bulletin, 110, 1268-1280, 1998. At GeoScienceWorld
• Mahoney, J. B., P. S. Mustard, J. W. Haggart, R. M. Friedman, C. M. Fanning, and V. J. McNicoll, Archean zircons in Cretaceous strata of the western Canadian Cordillera; the "Baja B.C." hypothesis fails a "crucial test", Geology (Boulder), 27, 195-198, 1999. [This triggered the Housen and Beck 1999 paper] At GeoScienceWorld. [followup in 2003 GSA Bulletin continues to support southern Canadian Cordillera origin]
• Kodama, K. P., and P. D. Ward, Compaction-corrected paleomagnetic paleolatitudes for Late Cretaceous rudists along the Cretaceous California margin; evidence for less than 1500 km of post-Late Cretaceous offset for Baja British Columbia, Geol. Soc. Am. Bull., 113, 1171-1178, 2001. [although trying to restrict to low-displacement interpretation, this most recent attack only gets so far--but combines faunal and paleomag]
• Housen, B. A., M. E. Beck, R. F. Burmester, T. Fawcett, G. Petro, R. Sargent, K. Addis, K. Curtis, J. Ladd, N. Liner, B. Molitor, T. Montgomery, I. Mynatt, B. Palmer, D. Tucker, and I. White, Paleomagnetism of the Mount Stuart batholith revisited again: What has been learned since 1972?, Am J Sci, 303, 263-299, 2003. [Beck argues for reconfirmation of the large northward displacement of the Mt. Stuart batholith].PDF at Am J Sci site.

General terrane readings:

• Irving, E., and P. J. Wynne, Part A, Paleomagnetism: Review and tectonic implications, Chapter 3, in Geology of the Cordilleran Orogen in Canada, Geology of Canada, v. 4, edited by H. Gabrielse and C. J. Yorath, pp. 61-86, Geol. Surv. Canada, 1991. [also called The Geology of North America, vol. G-2].
• Saleeby, J. B., Petrotectonic and paleogeographic settings of U.S. Cordilleran ophiolites, in The Cordilleran Orogen: Conterminous U.S., The Geology of North America, vol. G-3, edited by B. C. Burchfiel, P. W. Lipman and M. L. Zoback, pp. 653-682, Geol. Soc. Amer., Boulder, Colorado, 1992.
• Saleeby, J. B., and C. Busby-Spera, Early Mesozoic tectonic evolution of the western U.S. Cordillera, in The Cordilleran Orogen: Conterminous U.S., The Geology of North America, vol. G-3, edited by B. C. Burchfiel, P. W. Lipman and M. L. Zoback, pp. 107-168, Geol. Soc. Amer., Boulder, Colorado, 1992.

Terrane affinities to North America:

• Gehrels, G. E., R. F. Butler, and D. R. Bazard, Detrital zircon geochronology of the Alexander terrane, southeastern Alaska, Geological Society of America Bulletin, 108, 722-734, 1996. [documents a very-far travelled sliver of continental crust]
• Patchett, P. J., and G. E. Gehrels, Continental influence of Canadian Cordilleran terranes from Nd isotopic study, and significance for crustal growth processes, Journal of Geology, 106, 269-280, 1998. [Documents non-Precambrian origin for some of the terranes in western Canada].

Readings for 24-28 October on Structural Style of the Laramide Orogeny

Required Readings:

• Molzer, P.C and Erslev, E. Oblique convergence during northeast-southwest Laramide compression along the east-west Owl Creek and Caspar Mountain Arches, Central Wyoming, AAPG Bulletin, 79, (9), 1377-1394, 1993.
• Bump, A.P., and Davis, G.H., Late Cretaceous—early Tertiary Laramide deformation of the northern Colorado Plateau, Utah and Colorado: Journal of Structural Geology, v. 25, p. 421-440, 2003. (abstract and link to pdf online)

Additional references:

Structural styles of Laramide

• Craddock, J. P., and M. Relle, Fold axis-parallel rotation within the Laramide Derby Dome Fold, Wind River Basin, Wyoming, USA, J. Struct. Geol., 25, 1959-1972, 2003.
• Varga, R. J., Rocky Mountain foreland uplifts: Products of a rotating stress field or strain partitioning?, Geology, 21, (12), 1115-1118, 1993.
• Erslev, E. A., Multistage, multidirectional Tertiary shortening and compression in north-central New Mexico, Geol. Soc. Am. Bull, 113, 63-74, 2001.
• Erslev, E. A., Thrusts, back-thrusts, and detachment of Rocky Mountain foreland arches, in Laramide Basement deformation in the Rocky Mountain Foreland of the Western United States, Geol. Soc. Am. Spec. Paper, vol. 280, edited by C. J. Schmidt, R. B. Chase and E. A. Erslev, pp. 339-358, Geol. Soc. Amer., Boulder, Colo., 1993.
• Cather, S. M., Implications of Jurassic, Cretaceous, and Proterozoic piercing lines for Laramide oblique-slip faulting in New Mexico and rotation of the Colorado Plateau, Geol. Soc. Am. Bull., 111, 849-868, 1999.
  • Woodward, L. A., Implications of Jurassic, Cretaceous, and Proterozoic piercing lines for Laramide oblique-slip faulting in New Mexico and rotation of the Colorado Plateau: Discussion, Geol. Soc. Am. Bull., 112, 783-785, 2000.
  • Cather, S. M., and K. E. Karlstrom, Implications of Jurassic, Cretaceous, and Proterozoic piercing lines for Laramide oblique-slip faulting in New Mexico and rotation of the Colorado Plateau: Reply, Geol. Soc. Am. Bull., 112, 785-788, 2000.
  • Lucas, S. G., O. J. Anderson, and B. A. Black, Implications of Jurassic, Cretaceous, and Proterozoic piercing lines for Laramide oblique-slip faulting in New Mexico and rotation of the Colorado Plateau: Discussion, Geol. Soc. Am. Bull., 112, 789-790, 2000.
  • Cather, S. M., Implications of Jurassic, Cretaceous, and Proterozoic piercing lines for Laramide oblique-slip faulting in New Mexico and rotation of the Colorado Plateau: Reply, Geol. Soc. Am. Bull., 112, 790-795, 2000.
  • Ingersoll, R. V., Implications of Jurassic, Cretaceous, and Proterozoic piercing lines for Laramide oblique-slip faulting in New Mexico and rotation of the Colorado Plateau: Discussion, Geol. Soc. Am. Bull., 112, 796-797, 2000.
  • Cather, S. M., Implications of Jurassic, Cretaceous, and Proterozoic piercing lines for Laramide oblique-slip faulting in New Mexico and rotation of the Colorado Plateau: Reply, Geol. Soc. Am. Bull., 112, 797-798, 2000.
• Brown, W. G., Deformational style of Laramide uplifts in the Wyoming foreland, in Interaction of the Rocky Mountain Foreland and the Cordilleran thrust belt, Geological Society of America Memoir, vol. 171, edited by C. J. Schmidt and W. J. Perry, Jr., pp. 1-25, Geol. Soc. Am., Boulder, Colo., 1988.
• Gries, R., North-South compression of Rocky Mountain foreland structures, in Rocky Mountain foreland basins and uplifts, edited by J. D. Lowell and R. Gries, pp. 9-32, Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists, Denver, Colorado, 1983.
• Karlstrom, K. E., and C. G. Daniel, Restoration of Laramide right-lateral strike slip in northern New Mexico by using Proterozoic piercing points: Tectonic implications from the Proterozoic to the Cenozoic, Geology, 21, (12), 1139-1142, 1993.
  • Woodward, L. A., Restoration of Laramide right-lateral strike slip in northern New Mexico by using Proterozoic piercing points; tectonic implications from the Proterozoic to the Cenozoic: Comment, Geology, 22, (9), 862-863, 1994.
  • Karlstrom, K. E., and C. G. Daniel, Restoration of Laramide right-lateral strike slip in northern New Mexico by using Proterozoic piercing points; tectonic implications from the Proterozoic to the Cenozoic: Reply, Geology, 22, (9), 863-864, 1994.

Additional Readings for Stress Inversion:

• Gephart, J. W., Stress and the direction of slip on fault planes, Tectonics, 9, 845-858, 1990.

Timing of Laramide

• Dickinson, W. R., M. A. Klute, M. J. Hayes, S. U. Janecke, E. R. Lundin, M. A. McKittrick, and M. D. Olivares, Paleogeographic and paleotectonic setting of Laramide sedimentary basins in the central Rocky Mountain region, Geological Society of America Bulletin, 100, (7), 1023-1039, 1988.

Readings for 28, 31 October on Causes of Laramide Orogeny

Required Readings:

• Livaccari, R. F., and F. V. Perry, Isotopic evidence for preservation of Cordilleran lithospheric mantle during the Sevier-Laramide Orogeny, Western United States, Geology, 21, (8), 719-722, 1993. (at GeoScienceWorld)
  • Bird, P., Isotopic evidence for preservation of Cordilleran lithospheric mantle during the Sevier-Laramide Orogeny, Western United States: Comment, Geology, 22, (7), 670-671, 1994. (pdf of comment and reply)
  • Perry, F. V., and R. F. Livaccari, Isotopic evidence for preservation of Cordilleran lithospheric mantle during the Sevier-Laramide Orogeny, Western United States: Reply, Geology, 22, (7), 671-672, 1994.
• Bird, P., Kinematic history of the Laramide orogeny in latitudes 35 degrees-49 degrees N, western United States, Tectonics, 17, (5), 780-801, 1998. (PDF from AGU)

Additional references:

Tectonics of the Laramide Orogeny

• Maxson, J., and B. Tikoff, Hit-and-run collision model for the Laramide orogeny, western United States, Geology, 24, (11), 968-972, 1996.
• Livaccari, R. F., Role of crustal thickening and extensional collapse in the tectonic evolution of the Sevier-Laramide Orogeny, Western United States, Geology, 19, (11), 1104-1107, 1991.
• Bird, P., Formation of the Rocky Mountains, Western United States; a continuum computer model, Science, 239, (4847), 1501-1507, 1988.
• Saleeby, J., Segmentation of the Laramide Slab - evidence from the southern Sierra Nevada region, Geol. Soc. Am. Bull., 115, 655-668, 2003. (PDF from GSA) [There are several other articles by Mihai Ducea and Jason Saleeby that address aspects of this]

Laramide analogy papers (esp. the flat slab and geology of the Sierra Pampeanas):

• Jordan, T. E., and R. W. Allmendinger, The Sierras Pampeanas of Argentina: A modern analogue of Rocky Mountain foreland deformation, American Journal of Science, 286, (10), 737-764, 1986.
• Cahill, T. A., and B. L. Isacks, Seismicity and shape of the subducted Nazca Plate, Journal of Geophysical Research, 97, (12), 17,503-17,529, 1992.

Readings for 31 October on Mz-Cz Igneous Rocks

Required Readings:

• Ducea, M., The California arc: Thick granitic batholiths, eclogitic residues, lithospheric-scale thrusting, and magmatic flare-ups, GSA Today, 11, 4-10, 2001. (Available online from GSA)
• Mutschler, F. E., E. E. Larson, and R. M. Bruce, Laramide and younger magmatism in Colorado; new petrologic and tectonic variations on old themes, in Cenozoic volcanism in the Southern Rocky Mountains updated; a tribute to Rudy C. Epis; Part 1., Colorado School of Mines Quarterly, vol. 82; 4, edited by W. John Drexler and E. Edwin Larson, pp. 1-47, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO, United States, 1987.

Additional Reading:

• Stein, H. J., and J. G. Crock, Late Cretaceous-Tertiary magmatism in the Colorado Mineral Belt; Rare earth element and samarium-neodymium isotopic studies, in The nature and origin of Cordilleran magmatism,Geol. Soc. Am. Memoir, vol. 174, edited by J. L. Anderson, pp. 195-223, Geol. Soc. Am., Boulder, Colorado, 1990.

November 7: Initiation of Basin and Range extension (geobarometry)

Required readings:

• Wernicke, B. P., and S. R. Getty, Intracrustal subduction and gravity currents in the deep crust; Sm-Nd, Ar-Ar, and thermobarometric constraints from the Skagit gneiss complex, Washington, Geological Society of America Bulletin, 109, 1149-1166, 1997. (Abstract/pdf available from GSA)
• Winter, John D., 27.4 Geothermobarometry, in An Introduction to Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology, Prentice Hall, New Jersey, pp. 543-559, 2001. [this explains how geobarometry works and what assumptions it needs; there is a less thorough discussion in Stüwe's text]

Relevant Papers

• Baldridge, sec. 8.4
• Sonder, L. J., and C. H. Jones, Western United States extension: How the West was widened, Ann. Rev. Earth Planet. Sci., 27, 417-462, 1999. (Abstract from Annual Reviews--link to pdf with subscription)[This has references to a pretty fair collection of relevant papers on the Basin and Range and is really an overview for Basin and Range discussion].
• Hodges, K. V., A. W. Snoke, and H. A. Hurlow, Thermal evolution of a portion of the Sevier Hinterland; the northern Ruby Mountains-East Humboldt Range and Wood Hills, northeastern Nevada, Tectonics, 11, 154-164, 1992.

November 9, 11: Core complexes and crustal flow

Turcotte and Schubert, pp. 226-229 (section 6-1, 6-2) can be a help in understanding Kruse et al.

Required Readings:

• Buck, W. R., Modes of continental lithospheric extension, J. Geophys. Res., 96, 20,161-20,178, 1991. [we'll move into this as we get to discussing the possible changes in Basin and Range tectonics with time]
• Brace, W. F., and D. L. Kohlstedt, Limits on lithospheric stress imposed by laboratory experiments, J. Geophys. Res., 85, 6248-6252, 1980. [Seminal paper on changes in stress-strain relations in the lithosphere and what probably dictates them]
• Block, L., and L. H. Royden, Core complex geometries and regional scale flow in the lower crust, Tectonics, 9, 557-567, 1990. [shows why you need crustal flow]

Additional Readings:

• Gans, P. B., An open system, 2-layer crustal stretching model for the eastern Great Basin, Tectonics, 6, 1-12, 1987.
• Kruse, S., M. K. McNutt, J. Phipps-Morgan, L. Royden, and B. Wernicke, Lithospheric extension near Lake Mead, Nevada; a model for ductile flow in the lower crust, J. Geophys. Res., 96, 4435-4456, 1991. [shows how you might get crustal flow]
• Wernicke, B., The fluid crustal layer and its implications for continental dynamics, in Exposed Cross-Sections of the Continental Crust, NATO Advanced Studies Institute, Series C, Mathematical and Physical Sciences, vol. 317, edited by M. H. Salisbury and D. M. Fountain, pp. 509-544, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Norwell, Mass., 1990.

Readings for 14, 16 November on the Sierra Nevada

Required References: (and use of gravity, seismic refraction, geobarometry, low-temperature geothermometry, and heat flow):

• Chapter 4 of Turcotte and Schubert covers heat transport, which is useful background for some of this discussion. (Section 4-6 is of direct interest), and chapter 5 covers gravity.
• Handout on gravity, refraction, and heat flow
• House, M. A., B. P. Wernicke, and K. A. Farley, Dating topography of the Sierra Nevada, California, using apatite (U-Th)/He ages, Nature, 396, 66-69, 1998. (PDF/full text from Nature)
• Saltus, R. W., and A. H. Lachenbruch, Thermal evolution of the Sierra Nevada: Tectonic implications of new heat flow data, Tectonics, 10, (2), 325-344, 1991.

Other references:

• Dumitru, T. A., P. B. Gans, D. A. Foster, and E. A. Miller, Refrigeration of the western Cordilleran lithosphere during Laramide shallow angle subduction, Geology, 19, 1145-1148, 1991 . (PDF from GSA)
• Stock, G. M., R. S. Anderson, and R. C. Finkel (2004), Pace of landscape evolution in the Sierra Nevada, California, revealed by cosmogenic dating of cave sediments, Geology, 32 (3), 193-196. [Late Cz uplift recorded in caves]
• Clark, M. K., G. Maheo, J. Saleeby, and K. Farley (2005), The non-equilibrium landscape of the southern Sierra Nevada, CA, GSA Today, 15 (9), 4-10. [Suggests substantial (2.5 km) uplift of Sierra pst 32 Ma]
• House, M. A., B. P. Wernicke, and K. A. Farley, Paleo-geomorphology of the Sierra Nevada, California, from (U-Th)/He ages in apatite, Am. J. Sci., 301, 77-102, 2001. [More recent update includes inferred low-relief to the east of the line reported in House et al, 1998]
• Dumitru, T. A., Subnormal Cenozoic geothermal gradients in the extinct Sierra Nevada magmatic arc: Consequences of Laramide and post-Laramide shallow angle subduction, J. Geophys. Res., 95, 4925-4941, 1990. [More complete analysis of the Sierra fission track data]
• Simpson, R. W., and R. C. Jachens, Gravity methods in regional studies, Mem. Geol. Soc. Am., 172, Geol. Soc. Am., 35-44, 1989.
• Jachens, R. C., R. W. Simpson, R. J. Blakely, and R. W. Saltus, Isostatic residual gravity and crustal geology of the United States, Mem. Geol. Soc. Am., 172, Geol. Soc. Am., 405-424, 1989. [contains the explanation of trouble with common interpretations of the isostatic gravity anomaly]
• Jones, C. H., H. Kanamori, and S. W. Roecker, Missing roots and mantle "drips": Regional P_n and teleseismic arrival times in the southern Sierra Nevada and vicinity, California, J. Geophys. Res., 99, 4567-4601, 1994. [focus on the gravity and refraction portions and ignore the teleseismic tomography] (PDF from AGU, requires login)
• Jones, C. H., Is extension in Death Valley accomodated by thinning of the mantle lithosphere beneath the Sierra Nevada, California?, Tectonics, 6, 449-473, 1987. [Contains an overview of the work done that led to the interpretation of a thick root]
• Ducea, M. N., and J. B. Saleeby, The age and origin of a thick mafic-ultramafic keel from beneath the Sierra Nevada batholith, Contrib. Minerol. Petrol., 133, 169-185, 1998. (Article from Springer online)
• Saleeby, J. B., Progress in tectonic and petrogenetic studies in an exposed cross-section of young (~100 Ma) continental crust, southern Sierra Nevada, California, in Exposed Cross-Sections of the Continental Crust, NATO Advanced Studies Institute, Series C, Mathematical and Physical Sciences, vol. 317, edited by M. H. Salisbury, pp. 137-158, D. Reidel Publishing Co., Norwell, Mass., 1990. [Surface geologic constraints on the variations with depth in the batholith]
• Ducea, M. N., and J. B. Saleeby, Buoyancy sources for a large, unrooted mountain range, the Sierra Nevada, California: Evidence from xenolith thermobarometry, J. Geophys. Res., 101, (B4), 8229-8244, 1996. [First of several papers reconstructing the batholith's deeper parts from xenoliths]
• Chase, C. G., and T. C. Wallace, Uplift of the Sierra Nevada of California, Geology, 14, 730-733, 1986. [An interesting proposal for how a Mesozoic root could have produced a late Cenozoic uplift through flexure].
• Wernicke, B., R. Clayton, M. Ducea, C. H. Jones, S. Park, S. Ruppert, J. Saleeby, J. K. Snow, L. Squires, M. Fliedner, G. Jiracek, R. Keller, S. Klemperer, J. Luetgert, P. Malin, K. Miller, W. Mooney, H. Oliver, and R. Phinney, Origin of high mountains in the continents: The southern Sierra Nevada, Science, 271, 190-193, 1996. [Highlights of the 1993 SSCD project's results]