Early history of the Michigan basin: Subsidence and Appalachian tectonics

Abstract

Research Article| December 01, 1990 Early history of the Michigan basin: Subsidence and Appalachian tectonics Paul D. Howell; Paul D. Howell 1Department of Geological Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Ben A. van der Pluijm Ben A. van der Pluijm 1Department of Geological Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Paul D. Howell 1Department of Geological Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109 Ben A. van der Pluijm 1Department of Geological Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109 Publisher: Geological Society of America First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 Geological Society of America Geology (1990) 18 (12): 1195–1198. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1990)018<1195:EHOTMB>2.3.CO;2 Article history First Online: 02 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 Paul D. Howell, Ben A. van der Pluijm; Early history of the Michigan basin: Subsidence and Appalachian tectonics. Geology 1990;; 18 (12): 1195–1198. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1990)018<1195:EHOTMB>2.3.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 SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract Geometries of Cambrian to Silurian stratigraphc sequences in the Michigan basin record discrete episodes of basin-centered subsidence separated by periods of regional tilting. Backstripping reveals irregular subsidence rates that argue against a simple thermal contraction model. Depositional facies architecture also reflects episodic subsidence patterns, basin-centered facies tracts dominating during subsidence reactivations. These three lines of evidence indicate that subsidence cessations and reactivations characterize the early history of the Michigan basin. Periods of episodic subsidence correlate temporally with orogenic events in the Appalachians, suggesting that reactivation of basin subsidence is related to tectonic activity. We propose that Appalachian orogenic activity caused the episodic subsidence of the Michigan basin, possibly through weakening of the lower crust and reactivation of a preexisting upper-crustal isostatic imbalance. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.