Development of Cretaceous transpressional cleavage synchronous with batholith emplacement, central Sierra Nevada, California

Abstract

Research Article| July 01, 2000 Development of Cretaceous transpressional cleavage synchronous with batholith emplacement, central Sierra Nevada, California Warren D. Sharp; Warren D. Sharp 1Berkeley Geochronology Center, 2455 Ridge Road, Berkeley, California 94709, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Othmar T. Tobisch; Othmar T. Tobisch 2Earth Sciences Department, University of California, Santa Cruz, California 95064, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Paul R. Renne Paul R. Renne 1Berkeley Geochronology Center, 2455 Ridge Road, Berkeley, California 94709, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Warren D. Sharp 1Berkeley Geochronology Center, 2455 Ridge Road, Berkeley, California 94709, USA Othmar T. Tobisch 2Earth Sciences Department, University of California, Santa Cruz, California 95064, USA Paul R. Renne 1Berkeley Geochronology Center, 2455 Ridge Road, Berkeley, California 94709, USA Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 03 Mar 1999 Revision Received: 12 Oct 1999 Accepted: 12 Oct 1999 First Online: 01 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2674 Print ISSN: 0016-7606 Geological Society of America GSA Bulletin (2000) 112 (7): 1059–1066. https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(2000)112<1059:DOCTCS>2.0.CO;2 Article history Received: 03 Mar 1999 Revision Received: 12 Oct 1999 Accepted: 12 Oct 1999 First Online: 01 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Warren D. Sharp, Othmar T. Tobisch, Paul R. Renne; Development of Cretaceous transpressional cleavage synchronous with batholith emplacement, central Sierra Nevada, California. GSA Bulletin 2000;; 112 (7): 1059–1066. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(2000)112<1059:DOCTCS>2.0.CO;2 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 SocietyGSA Bulletin Search Advanced Search Abstract Metamorphosed strata of the Ritter Range pendant record structures formed during the emplacement of granitic plutons at upper crustal levels (<8 km) in the Late Cretaceous Sierra Nevada magmatic arc. Paleozoic to Middle Jurassic strata of the pendant have been penetratively shortened 30%–50%, forming slates, phyllites, and schists with bedding-inclined cleavage and associated linear structures. The cleavage, secondary cleavages, and folds associated with these cleavages have orientations and geometries consistent with dextral transpression between the Farallon and North American plates. Microstructural relations show that cleavage development accompanied greenschist to amphibolite facies metamorphism. Metamorphic hornblende, muscovite, and biotite in the wall rocks show weak to strong preferred orientation and have 40Ar/39Ar plateau ages ranging from about 85 to 80 Ma. Hornblende, and possibly muscovite, are expected to retain 40Ar at or near estimated peak metamorphic temperatures of ∼500 °C, thus their 40Ar/39Ar ages closely correspond to the time of cleavage formation. Granitic plutons adjacent to the Ritter Range pendant have yielded U-Pb and other ages that cluster from 91 to 82 Ma. We conclude that bedding-inclined cleavage and metamorphism in the Ritter Range wall rocks developed in a dextral transpressive strain regime penecontemporaneously with emplacement of adjacent granitic plutons. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.