Inversion of Proterozoic extensional faults: An explanation for the pattern of Laramide and Ancestral Rockies intracratonic deformation, United States

Abstract

Research Article| August 01, 2000 Inversion of Proterozoic extensional faults: An explanation for the pattern of Laramide and Ancestral Rockies intracratonic deformation, United States Stephen Marshak; Stephen Marshak 1Department of Geology, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Karl Karlstrom; Karl Karlstrom 2Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar J. Michael Timmons J. Michael Timmons 2Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Geology (2000) 28 (8): 735–738. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2000)28<735:IOPEFA>2.0.CO;2 Article history received: 25 Jan 2000 rev-recd: 15 May 2000 accepted: 19 May 2000 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 Stephen Marshak, Karl Karlstrom, J. Michael Timmons; Inversion of Proterozoic extensional faults: An explanation for the pattern of Laramide and Ancestral Rockies intracratonic deformation, United States. Geology 2000;; 28 (8): 735–738. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2000)28<735:IOPEFA>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 SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract The Rocky Mountains, Colorado Plateau, and Midcontinent, regions of the North American cratonic platform, display similar styles and patterns of Phanerozoic deformation. In these regions, movement on basement-penetrating faults during the late Paleozoic Ancestral Rockies event and/or during the Mesozoic-Cenozoic Laramide event generated flat-topped uplifts bordered by outward-verging, monoclinal forced folds. We suggest that these structures, divided into two sets on the basis of orientation (west to northwest and north to northeast), formed by inversion of Proterozoic extensional-fault systems. In this model, Proterozoic rifting events formed weak faults in the cratonic platform crust, and these faults were reactivated by stress transmitted during Phanerozoic compressional orogenies. If this model is correct, the pattern of Ancestral Rockies and Laramide contractional structures reflects the trends of Proterozoic extensional faults, and regional variation in forced-fold vergence reflects the control of antecedent fault dips on fault-propagation fold geometry during inversion. Late Proterozoic rifts formed throughout Rodinia, so inversion tectonics likely occurred in cratonic platforms worldwide. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.