The Taconic Orogeny

Abstract

Research Article| May 01, 1971 The Taconic Orogeny JOHN RODGERS JOHN RODGERS Department of Geology and Geophysics, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar GSA Bulletin (1971) 82 (5): 1141–1178. https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1971)82[1141:TTO]2.0.CO;2 Article history received: 25 Jan 1971 first online: 02 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation JOHN RODGERS; The Taconic Orogeny. GSA Bulletin 1971;; 82 (5): 1141–1178. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1971)82[1141:TTO]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 SocietyGSA Bulletin Search Advanced Search Abstract The Taconic orogeny of eastern North America was not, as traditionally defined, a single orogenic event that occurred at the end of the Ordovician period, but rather a complex series of orogenic episodes or climaxes spread over the larger part of that period. In most sectors of the northern Appalachians it included at least three of the following: disconformity in an external belt where carbonate was accumulating; severe early deformation in an internal volcanic belt; gravity slides from internal uplifts into the external belt; and widespread deformation, especially in the more external belts. In general, these events did not occur at the same time in the various sectors; each took a considerable time, and they overlapped to some extent. The Taconic orogeny also affected the southern Appalachians and may have been the most important one there, but evidence for this assertion is meager and inconclusive. Detailed analysis of the "fine structure" of the Taconic orogeny combats the dogma that orogenies are sharp, discrete events punctuating the geologic record (separating periods and abruptly terminating geosynclinal sedimentation) and suggests instead that they reflect "random-walk" processes within the Earth, in all likelihood the same as those responsible for sea-floor spreading and the present tectonic state of the Earth. 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.