Continental uplift through crustal hydration

Abstract

Research Article| April 01, 2015 Continental uplift through crustal hydration Craig H. Jones; Craig H. Jones 1Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309-0399, USA2Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Science, University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309-0216, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Kevin H. Mahan; Kevin H. Mahan 1Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309-0399, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Lesley A. Butcher; Lesley A. Butcher 1Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309-0399, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar William B. Levandowski; William B. Levandowski 1Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309-0399, USA2Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Science, University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309-0216, USA *Current address: U.S. Geological Survey, Golden, Colorado 80401, USA. Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar G. Lang Farmer G. Lang Farmer 1Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309-0399, USA2Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Science, University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309-0216, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Craig H. Jones 1Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309-0399, USA2Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Science, University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309-0216, USA Kevin H. Mahan 1Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309-0399, USA Lesley A. Butcher 1Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309-0399, USA William B. Levandowski *Current address: U.S. Geological Survey, Golden, Colorado 80401, USA. 1Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309-0399, USA2Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Science, University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309-0216, USA G. Lang Farmer 1Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309-0399, USA2Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Science, University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309-0216, USA Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 05 Dec 2014 Revision Received: 26 Jan 2015 Accepted: 29 Jan 2015 First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 © 2015 Geological Society of America Geology (2015) 43 (4): 355–358. https://doi.org/10.1130/G36509.1 Article history Received: 05 Dec 2014 Revision Received: 26 Jan 2015 Accepted: 29 Jan 2015 First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Craig H. Jones, Kevin H. Mahan, Lesley A. Butcher, William B. Levandowski, G. Lang Farmer; Continental uplift through crustal hydration. Geology 2015;; 43 (4): 355–358. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G36509.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract Isostatic surface uplift of large continental regions lacking deformation remains largely unexplained. Evidence from the eastern parts of the Cordilleran orogen in the western United States suggests that increased buoyancy in the lower crust supports the elevations of the High Plains and Wyoming craton. We suggest that hydration of the lower crust associated with the Laramide orogeny produced surface uplift by replacing dense mineral phases such as garnet with less dense phases such as amphibole and mica. Seismic and petrologic evidence from Wyoming and Montana is consistent with such changes. Comparable hydration in the Colorado Plateau is dated to the early Tertiary. Beyond establishing a newly recognized mechanism for broad continental uplift, such hydration suggests that interactions of subduction-derived fluids and the lithosphere can be more profound than previously envisioned. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.