Tertiary tectonic denudation of a Mesozoic–early Tertiary(?) gneiss complex, Rawhide Mountains, western Arizona

Abstract

Research Article| April 01, 1980 Tertiary tectonic denudation of a Mesozoic–early Tertiary(?) gneiss complex, Rawhide Mountains, western Arizona T. J. Shackelford T. J. Shackelford 1Marathon Oil Company, Denver Research Center, P.O. Box 269, Littleton, Colorado 80120 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information T. J. Shackelford 1Marathon Oil Company, Denver Research Center, P.O. Box 269, Littleton, Colorado 80120 Publisher: Geological Society of America First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 Geological Society of America Geology (1980) 8 (4): 190–194. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1980)8<190:TTDOAM>2.0.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 T. J. Shackelford; Tertiary tectonic denudation of a Mesozoic–early Tertiary(?) gneiss complex, Rawhide Mountains, western Arizona. Geology 1980;; 8 (4): 190–194. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1980)8<190:TTDOAM>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 Rawhide fault in western Arizona is a major Miocene detachment surface that separates an autochthonous Mesozoic–early Tertiary(?) metamorphic complex from an allochthon of chaotically imbricated Precambrian(?) igneous and metamorphic, Paleozoic metasedimentary, Mesozoic(?) igneous and metamorphic, and Tertiary sedimentary and volcanic rocks. Lower-plate metamorphic rocks consist largely of mylonitic quartzofeldspathic gneisses with a strong mineral lineation trending 20° S, 48° W. These gneisses yield early Tertiary K-Ar ages. The allochthon is composed of two major sheets that are broken, independently, by a myriad of Miocene high- and low-angle normal faults.The Rawhide fault formed by the coalescing of listric normal faults along a favorable structural horizon, presumably near the top of the metamorphic complex. Tectonic denudation of the metamorphic complex along the Rawhide fault occurred between 16.2 and 9.6 m.y. ago. Structural analyses indicate movement of the allochthon toward the northeast. The nature, geometry, and style of deformation suggest that the highly disrupted upper-plate terrane was most likely produced by the detachment, probably by gravity, of the Precambrian(?) to Miocene cover rocks from the underlying Mesozoic–early Tertiary(?) metamorphic complex. 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.