New COCORP profiling in the southeastern United States. Part I: Late Paleozoic suture and Mesozoic rift basin

Abstract

Research Article| October 01, 1985 New COCORP profiling in the southeastern United States. Part I: Late Paleozoic suture and Mesozoic rift basin K. D. Nelson; K. D. Nelson 1Institute for the Study of the Continents (INSTOC), Snee Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar J. A. Arnow; J. A. Arnow 1Institute for the Study of the Continents (INSTOC), Snee Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar J. H. McBride; J. H. McBride 1Institute for the Study of the Continents (INSTOC), Snee Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar J. H. Willemin; J. H. Willemin 1Institute for the Study of the Continents (INSTOC), Snee Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar J. Huang; J. Huang 1Institute for the Study of the Continents (INSTOC), Snee Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar L. Zheng; L. Zheng 1Institute for the Study of the Continents (INSTOC), Snee Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar J. E. Oliver; J. E. Oliver 1Institute for the Study of the Continents (INSTOC), Snee Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar L. D. Brown; L. D. Brown 1Institute for the Study of the Continents (INSTOC), Snee Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar S. Kaufman S. Kaufman 1Institute for the Study of the Continents (INSTOC), Snee Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Geology (1985) 13 (10): 714–718. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1985)13<714:NCPITS>2.0.CO;2 Article history 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 K. D. Nelson, J. A. Arnow, J. H. McBride, J. H. Willemin, J. Huang, L. Zheng, J. E. Oliver, L. D. Brown, S. Kaufman; New COCORP profiling in the southeastern United States. Part I: Late Paleozoic suture and Mesozoic rift basin. Geology 1985;; 13 (10): 714–718. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1985)13<714:NCPITS>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 New COCORP profiling in the southeastern United States has revealed a broad zone of dipping reflections that extends downward through the crust beneath the coastal plain in western Georgia. The zone is over 50 km wide, and most of the reflections dip moderately steeply toward the south. Regional considerations suggest that this feature marks the late Paleozoic suture between North America and Africa. Where crossed by the COCORP survey, the suture occurs beneath the north flank of the Triassic-Early Jurassic south Georgia basin. The main depocenter of the south Georgia basin occurs about 90 km to the south and is formed by a large half graben containing more than 5 km of rift basin fill. Farther south, the Paleozoic Suwannee basin sequence beneath northern Florida is poorly imaged on the COCORP profiles. However, weak reflections suggest that these strata (including basal felsic volcanics) may have an aggregate thickness of about 6 km in north-central Florida. At the northwest end of the COCORP traverse, a prominent horizon imaged in the upper crust beneath the inner Piedmont probably marks the southern Appalachian detachment. The detachment appears to be cut off by the Towaliga fault, implying that the Towaliga fault is in part a down-to-the-north normal fault. Intermittent Moho reflections occur at 11–12-s two-way time along the length of the COCORP survey, indicating that the crust in the region has a roughly uniform thickness of about 33–36 km (assuming an average crustal velocity of 6 km/s). 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.