Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Article
  • Published:

Early Mesozoic rifting and fragmentation of the Cordilleran orogen in the western USA

Nature volume 260, pages 586–591 (1976)Cite this article

Abstract

New data make possible the precise definition of the truncated edge of the southern part of the Cordilleran orogen in California, and lead to the identification of possible ‘missing piece’ removed during the early Triassic. A probable reconstruction of the Palaeozoic Cordilleran orogen involving large scale lateral transport of major tectonic units is suggested.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Hamilton, W., and Myers, W. B., Rev. Geophys., 4, 509 (1966).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  2. Hamilton, W., Bull. Geol. Soc. Am., 81, 2409 (1969).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Hamilton, W., Abstr. with Programs Geol. Soc. America, 3, 130 (1971).

    Google Scholar 

  4. Burchfiel, B. C., and Davis, G. A., Am. J. Sci., 272, 97 (1972).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  5. Burchfiel, B. C., and Davis, G. A., Am. J. Sci., 275A, 363 (1975).

    Google Scholar 

  6. Jones, D. L., Irwin, W. P., and Ovenshine, A. T., in Prof. Pap. U.S. Geol. Survey, 800 B, B211 (1972).

    Google Scholar 

  7. Monger, J. W. H., and Ross, C. A., Can. J. Earth Sci., 8, 259 (1971).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  8. Silberling, N. J., in The Permian and Triassic Systems and their Mutual Boundary, 345 (Alberta Society of Petroleum Geologists, 1973).

    Google Scholar 

  9. Churkin, M., Jr, in Modern and Ancient Geosynclinal Sedimentation, Society of Economic Paleontologists and Mineralogists, Spec. Paper 19, 174 (1974).

    Book  Google Scholar 

  10. Stewart, J. H., and Poole, F. G., in Spec. Pub. Soc. Econ. Paleontol. Mineral., 22, 28 (1974).

    Google Scholar 

  11. Hotz, P. E., Miscellaneous Field Studies Map, MF-568 (US Geol. Survey 1974).

    Google Scholar 

  12. Davis, G. A., Abstr. with Programs Geol. Soc. Am., 5, 592 (1973).

    Google Scholar 

  13. Schweickert, R. A., and Wright, W. H., III, ibid., 7, 371 (1975).

    Google Scholar 

  14. Schweickert, R. A., and Wright, W. H., III, in Geological Society Sacramento Guidebook, 30 (1975).

    Google Scholar 

  15. Schweickert, R. A., and Cowan, D. S., Bull. Geol. Soc. Am., 86, 1329 (1975).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Bateman, P. C., and Clark, L. D., Pacific Geol., 8, 79 (1974).

    Google Scholar 

  17. Speed, R. C., Abstr. with Programs Geol. Soc. Am., 3, 199 (1971).

    Google Scholar 

  18. Roberts, R. J., Prof. Pap. U. S. Geol. Survey, 459 A, (1964).

  19. Silberling, N. J., and Roberts, R. J., Spec. Pap. Geol. Soc. Am., 72 (1962).

  20. Clark, L. D., Imlay, R. W., McMath, V. E., and Silberling, N. J., in Prof. Pap. U.S. Geol. Survey, 450 B, B15 (1962).

    Google Scholar 

  21. McMath, V. E., in Bull. Calif. Div. Mines and Geol., 190, 173 (1966).

    Google Scholar 

  22. Anderson, T. B., Woodard, G. D., Strathouse, S. M., and Twichell, M. K., Abstr. with Programs Geol. Soc. Am., 6, 139 (1974).

    Google Scholar 

  23. Schweickert, R. A., ibid., 6, 251 (1974).

    Google Scholar 

  24. Brook, C. A., Nokleberg, W. J., and Kistler, R. W., Bull. Geol. Soc. Am., 85, 571 (1974).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Brook, C. A., Abstr. with Programs Geol. Soc. Am., 6, 147 (1974).

    Google Scholar 

  26. Kistler, R. W., Bull. U. S. Geol. Survey, 1221 E, (1966).

  27. Speed, R. C., Abstr. with Programs Geol. Soc. Am., 5, 109 (1973).

    Google Scholar 

  28. McKee, E. H., and Burke, D. B., Bull. Geol. Soc. Am., 83, 1949 (1972).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Albers, J. P., and Robertson, J. F., Prof. Pap. U.S. Geol. Survey, 338 (1961).

  30. Knopf, A., Prof. Pap. U.S. Geol. Survey, 157, (1929).

  31. Clark, L. D., Bull. Geol. Soc. Am., 71, 483 (1960).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Davis, G. A., Bull. Geol. Soc. Am., 80, 1095 (1969).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Duffield, W. A., and Sharp, R. V., Prof. Pap. U.S. Geol. Survey, 827 (1975).

  34. Douglass, R. C., Prof. Pap. U.S. Geol. Survey, 593 A (1967).

  35. Irwin, W. P., in Bull. Calif. Div. Mines and Geol., 190, 19 (1966).

    Google Scholar 

  36. Irwin, W. P., in Prof. Pap. U. S. Geol. Survey, 800 C, C103 (1972).

    Google Scholar 

  37. Davis, G. A., in Bull. Calif. Div. Mines and Geol., 190, 39 (1966).

    Google Scholar 

  38. Cox, D. P., and Pratt, W. P., Bull. Geol. Soc. Am., 84, 1423 (1973).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Cashman, P. H., Abstr. with Programs Geol. Soc. Am., 6, 153 (1974).

    Google Scholar 

  40. Silberling, N. J., and Irwin, W. P., in Prof. Pap. U. S. Geol. Survey, 450 B, B60 (1962).

    Google Scholar 

  41. Lanphere, M. A., Irwin, W. P., and Hotz, P. E., Bull. Geol. Soc. Am., 79, 1027 (1968).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Armstrong, R. L., and Besancon, J., Eclogae geol. Helv., 63, 15 (1970).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Paterson, I. A., and Harakal, J. E., Can. J. Earth Sci., 11, 1007 (1974).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Misch, P., in Spec. Vol. Can. Inst. Min. Metall., 8, 101 (1966).

    Google Scholar 

  45. Swanson, D. A., in Prof. Pap. U. S. Geol. Survey, 650 B, B8 (1969).

    Google Scholar 

  46. Schweickert, R. A., Spec. Pap. Geol. Soc. Am. (in the press).

  47. Evernden, J. F., and Kistler, R. W., Prof. Pap. U.S. Geol. Survey, 623 (1970).

  48. Gabrielse, H., and Reesor, J. E., Pacific Geol., 8, 109 (1974).

    Google Scholar 

  49. Armstrong, R. L., and Suppe, J., Bull. Geol. Soc. Am., 84, 1375 (1973).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  50. Hietanen, A., Bull. Geol. Soc. Am., 84, 731 (1973).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  51. Davis, G. A., Bull. Geol. Soc. Am., 79, 911 (1968).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  52. Stewart, J. H., Bull. Geol. Soc. Am., 83, 1345 (1971).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  53. Jones, D. L., and Irwin, W. P., Bull. Geol. Soc. Am., 82, 815 (1970).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  54. Schweickert, R. A., Abstr. with Programs Geol. Soc. Am., 8, 409 (1976).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geological Sciences and Lamont–Doherty Geological Observatory of Columbia University, New York, New York, 10964

    Richard A. Schweickert

Authors
  1. Richard A. Schweickert
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Schweickert, R. Early Mesozoic rifting and fragmentation of the Cordilleran orogen in the western USA. Nature 260, 586–591 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1038/260586a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/260586a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing