A Study of Tectonic Influence on Triassic Sedimentation--The Wadesboro Basin, Central Piedmont

Abstract

ABSTRACT Tectonism had a great influence on the sedimentological framework of the Triassic basins of eastern North America. The Wadesboro especially demonstrates structural control of a depositional basin. Structural splintering occurred along the western border of the with the development of elongated horsts and graben. These graben are filled with fanglomerate suggesting the presence of active fault scarps with steep gradients at the time of deposition. Conglomerate and coarse sandstone occur in the central portion of the but no coarse facies exists along the eastern border fault. This is surely a border of major faulting for the attitude of the Newark beds is homoclinal, striking about N 41° E and dipping 20° SE. A former extension of the may have existed to he east as suggested by the presence of fanglomerate-filled Newark outliers and a branch (?) of the Jonesboro fault. This extension may have contained the coarse facies but has been subsequently removed by erosion. The presence of a complete graben facies supports the premise of a local basin origin of the Triassic basins of eastern North America.