Abstract
The Upper Triassic to Middle Jurassic Cadwallader terrane lies on the northeastern edge of the Coast Plutonic Complex in southwestern British Columbia. Previous work on the Cadwallader Group, the basal unit of the terrane, suggested it was an Upper Triassic (Carnian to middle Norian) volcanic arc and related clastic rocks. Volcanism ceased in early Norian time. A detailed study of the upper part of the Cadwallader terrane (Tyaughton Group and overlying Last Creek formation) shows that it is a sedimentary sequence deposited on the fringe of the inactive Cadwallader magmatic arc. The Upper Triassic (middle to upper Norian) Tyaughton Group consists of nonmarine to shallow-marine clastic rocks and limestones that show sudden changes in depositional setting. The Lower to Middle Jurassic Last Creek formation, a transgressive sequence of clastic rocks, disconformably overlies the Tyaughton Group. The clastic rocks in the two units were derived from a mixed volcanic and plutonic source region that also included a minor metamorphic component and local lower Norian limestones. The stratigraphy of the upper part of the Cadwallader terrane records long-term thermal subsidence of the basin caused by cooling of the magmatic arc after volcanism ceased in the early Norian. The detailed stratigraphy of the upper Cadwallader terrane supports correlation of the Cadwallader with the Stikine terrane, along which it is currently structurally juxtaposed.
Published Version
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call