Late Mesozoic-Cenozoic Tectonic Aspects of the Atlantic Coastal Margin

Abstract

Data from the middle and northern Atlantic Coastal Plain of the United States and continental slope show that the dominant filling of the Atlantic margin geosyncline occurred in pre-latest Cretaceous time with only thin additions of Cenozoic strata. The influx of significant amounts of detrital material into the offshore areas had largely ceased by latest Cretaceous time, was essentially absent in the early Cenozoic, but increased considerably in the Miocene, indicating a rejuvenation of the Appalachian source area. Basin migration continued throughout the Cenozoic, and the Miocene and Eocene strata are used to illustrate the shifting of the loci of deposition. The distributions of the strata indicate that local to regional tectonic movements are responsible. Comparison with the Gulf Coast geosyncline shows that, although features such as sedimentary thickness, evaporites, and volcanic materials are generally similar between the two margins, major differences in time of filling and regional tectonic movements exist.